Unusual persistence of DDT in some western USA soils

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 259 - 264
• Main Authors: Hitch, R.K. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC), Day, H.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer-Verlag 01-02-1992
• Subjects: 560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology; Applied sciences; AROMATICS; BIODEGRADATION; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CONTAMINATION; DDE; DDT; DDT - metabolism; DECOMPOSITION; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene - metabolism; Exact sciences and technology; FEDERAL REGION VI; INSECTICIDAS; INSECTICIDE; INSECTICIDES; LAND POLLUTION; METABOLISM; METABOLISME; METABOLISMO; METABOLITE; METABOLITES; METABOLITOS; NEW MEXICO; NORTH AMERICA; NOUVEAU MEXIQUE; NUEVO MEXICO; ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS; PESTICIDES; POLLUTION; Pollution sources. Measurement results; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; SAMPLING; SOIL; Soil - analysis; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; SOILS; SOL; SUELO; TEXAS; USA; United States; North America; America; Check; Soil pollution; DDT; Residue; Chlorocarbon
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00194381

Contrary to expected results, DDT concentrations in soils from several sites in New Mexico and Texas far exceeded those of DDE during 1984-85, indicating possible illegal DDT use in the recent past. To address this issue, a DDT soil metabolism study was conducted with representative samples of suspicious and normal soils. Aerobic soil metabolism analyses indicate that the high DDT:DDE ratio in one suspicious soil is due to the low capacity of the soil to degrade DDT to DDE. The high DDT levels at some sites are attributed to slow conversion rates and not to illegal use of the banned pesticide.