Comparative excretion of DDT analogues into milk of indian buffalo,Bubalus bubalis L. following oral administration

Four groups of Indian buffaloes were fed daily with 25 mg of p,p′-DDT p,p′-TDE p,p′-DDE or o,p′-DDT for 100 days. Milk was analysed for organochlorine residues during this period and also for 100 days after pesticide administration had been discontinued. For the period showing ‘plateau level’ residues, 17.2% of p,p′-DDE, 17% of p,p′-TDE, 14% of p,p′-DDT as p,p′-DDT (3.5%); p,p′-TDE (10.5%); 3.2% of p,p′-DDT as o,p′-DDT (1.3%) and o,p'-TDE (1.9%) of their administered amounts were excreted in the milk. Since these compounds were excreted at different rates, the residue levels in the milk expected from a given feed would depend on their concentration and proportional distribution in the feed. The maximum tolerable content of DDT analogues in feed was derived to be 0.1 mg kg^?1 (dry weight basis) by using the maximum accumulation coefficient and incorporation of the necessary safety margin. It is concluded that Indian buffaloes fed with rations contaminated with a total of DDT analogues below this limit will yield milk of acceptable quality. Following the termination of feeding with contaminated rations, the elimination of p,p′-DDE in the milk took the longest time and that of o,p′-DDT the shortest. These results suggest that the time required for the initial high residue concentration to decline to less than the legal limit would be determined by the relative amounts of DDE, TDE and DDT in the milk, after elimination of the potent source of contamination.     

Accumulation and distribution of pp′-DDT and related compounds in an apple orchard. II. Residues in trees and herbage

DDT residues in or on the roots and leaves of the herbage and the roots, bark, leaves and fruit of the trees are given for an apple orchard sprayed annually (1953–1969). The distribution of DDT in both the grass and the grass roots was in circular areas of residues, with maximum values at each trunk and decreasing radially to each alley. Of the spray applied at the green cluster stage 80% was deposited on the grass sward and very little, if any, directly on the soil surface. The pp′-DDT content of the grass fell rapidly with successive mowings (from which the cuttings remained in situ) from 400 μg/g at spraying to 2 μg/g after nine months. 33 g/ha pp′-DDT was found in the herbage roots (0.87% of the total residues in the soil). The residues in the bark (87.5 g/ha) were much lower than expected after 13 years spray application. There were increased amounts of pp′-DDE, pp′-TDE and pp′-TDEE relative to pp′-DDT, indicating some breakdown on the bark, but the chief losses were attributed to volatilisation and to removal by wind and rain. The residue content of root bark varied from 3 μg/g near the emerging trunk to 0.05 μg/g at a depth of 90 cm. The pp′-DDT content of leaves at leaf fall rose from <1 ng/g after a single spring spray to 8.33 μg/g following an additional spray in late June. There was a large loss of DDT from the canopy between the June spray and leaf fall (440–480 g/ha down to 25 g/ha), attributed to volatilisation. The amount of pp′-DDT on the fruit, after a single spray, was 3 ng/g fresh weight (80.9 mg/ha out of a total of 1.0–1.5 kg/ha used).     

Pesticide residues in soil and foodstuff I. Chlorinated pesticides in cattle feed and milk produced in orchard and non-orchard areas

Milk, hay and silage produced in orchard and non-orchard areas have been analysed for their content of chlorinated pesticides. The residue levels in milk produced in orchard areas were about double those in milk produced in non-orchard areas. The levels in hay were much higher (30% up to sevenfold) in the hay produced in orchard areas and the levels in silage from the two areas showed small differences. Milk collected after cattle had been grazing in an orchard for 3 to 4 days contained 10% more pp′-DDT and 2-, 3-, 7- and 15-fold morepp′-DDE, pp′-TDE and heptachlor epoxide, gamma-BHC and pp′-TDE olefin [1-chloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene], respectively, than did the samples collected one day before the cattle grazed in the orchard.     

The accumulation and distribution of pp′DDT and related compounds in an apple orchard .I. residues in the soil

Soils from an orchard sprayed annually (1953-1969) with technical DDT (77% pp′DDT and 22 % pp′DDT) were analysed for residues from 1964 until 1969. The amount of DDT found after 17 years was 21 %pp′DDTout of 27.1 kg/ha applied, and 7 % of pp′DDT out of 7.6 kg/ha. The vertical distribution of residues (pp′DDT, pp′DDE, pp′TDE and pp′DDT) showed a linear relationship between log amount and depth, with approximately 80% in the top 10 cm of soil. At depths from 50 to 210 cm, residue values were too small to be determined (i.e. < 1 ng/g dry wt). The surface distribution in the orchard showed a systematic pattern of circular areas of residues, with maximum values centred at each trunk (7.5 μg/g) and decreasing rapidly to each alley (1.9 ug/g). The levels of pp′DDT had reached a steady state (3-4 kg/ha) and the half-life time was calculated as 3.0 j′ears. pp′DDE (1.8 kg/ha) was the main metabolite of pp′DDT. Small amounts of pp′TDE were also found, pp′DDT was less persistent than pp′DDT, with a half-life time of 1.5 years.     

Residues of organochlorine insecticides in some fishes and birds in the gezira of Sudan

Twenty-eight specimens representing five types of fish and five types of birds from the Gezira Research Farm, Wad Medani, Sudan, were analysed for residues of organochlorine insecticides. All fish muscle samples were found to contain pp′-DDE, pp′-TDE and pp′-DDT in total concentrations ranging from 0.27 to 16.0 mg/kg. In addition to DDT-type residues, dieldrin (HEOD) was also found in the majority of bird samples. Concentrations in bird breast muscle ranged from 0.07 to 5.5 mg/kg. When bird liver samples were examined they were found to contain higher residues than the breast muscle in nearly all cases.     

Inhibition of acetyl-coenzyme a carboxylase by coenzyme a conjugates of grass-selective herbicides

A total of 146 samples of different kinds of cheeses produced in Spain were analysed in order to ascertain the specific contamination pattern. The organochlorine compounds studied were those most commonly investigated in previous surveys: α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH (lindane), γ-HCH, chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and the isomers and metabolites of DDT. α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, chlordane, p,p′, DDT, and p,p′-DDE were found in more than 76% of samples; p,p′-DDE and γ-HCH were the most frequently detected, with frequencies of 100 and 97.9% respectively. γ-HCH, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD and o,p′-DDD were observed at lower frequencies. No residues of endrin were detected in any sample. Insecticides exceeding the maximum residue limits (MRLs) were chlordane, β-HCH, α-HCH and γ-HCH, with 42, 20, eight and six samples respectively. Mean residues of organochlorines found were as follows (μ kg^?1 butterfat): α-HCH = 46.3; β-HCH = 46.5; γ-HCH = 54.2; δ-HCH = 16.9; aldrin = 16.7; dieldrin = 9.7; heptachlor = 15.9; heptachlor epoxide = 14.8; chlordane = 50.2; o,p′-DDT = 5.1; p,p′-DDT = 12.4; o,p′-DDT = 19.6; p,p′-DDD = 46.7; o,p′-DDE = 6.9; p,p′-DDE = 40.7 (.DDT = 55.0). Estimated dietary intakes (EDIs) from cheese consumption were compared to acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) for the pesticides where residues exceeded the MRL. EDIs calculated were in all cases below ADIs, and, therefore, based on the ADIs, there is no health risk involved in the consumption of cheese from Spain arising from organochlorine residues.     

Residues of some chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides in milk and milk products after their addition to the feed of cows

Lactating cows fed 0.05 part/million aldrin, 0.2 part/million γ-BHC and 2.0 parts/million pp'-DDT in their concentrate ration gave detectable residues of dieldrin, γ-BHC, pp'-DDE, pp'-TDE and pp'-DDT in the milk and also aldrin in the butter and cheese. The levels found after 28 days of feeding were not significantly greater than those after 14 days. Subsequent increase of the pesticide content of the feed increased the residue content of the milk, butter and cheese. Only a small percentage of pesticide residue was found in the buttermilk, separated milk and the whey.     

In-vivo and in-vitro studies on DDT uptake and metabolism in susceptible and resistant strains of the mosquito Aedes aegypti L.

Twelve strains of Aedes aegypti have been compared for resistance to pp′-DDT, uptake of pp′-DDT, and dehydrochlorination of pp′-DDT to pp′-DDE in vivo and in vitro both at the larval and adult stages. Resistant larvae were shown to contain significantly more pp′-DDE than susceptible larvae after a standard exposure to pp′-DDT but also substantially more pp′-DDT in an unmetabolised state. There was a small increase in the percentage dehydrochlorinated in vivo in the resistant strains compared with the susceptible strains, but this was not correlated with the level of resistance nor with dehydrochlorination in vitro. However, dehydrochlorination in vitro was correlated with resistance. Adult resistance was correlated positively with dehydrochlorination, both in vivo and in vitro, but the resistant adults did not contain increased levels of unmetabolised DDT. By comparing resistance levels at the two stages, it was found that there were two kinds of resistant strain: four strains of Asian origin and one from West Africa were highly resistant as larvae but showed almost no resistance as adults; five strains from Central and South America were highly resistant at both stages. The different mechanisms of resistance in adults and larvae are discussed in relation to genetic studies.     

Mechanism of DDT resistance in larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti L.; The effect of DDT selection

Selection with pp'-DDT was applied to fourth-stage larvae of Aedes aegypti along four lines, starting with larvae of the F₂ generation from crosses between a susceptible strain and each of four resistant strains (two of Trinidad origin and two of Bangkok origin). Larval resistance increased substantially along each line but there was little or no change in the percentage breakdown of DDT to 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chloro-phenyl)ethylene (pp'-DDE) in vivo and in no line were these two variables significantly correlated. Percentage breakdown was generally higher at 10 mg than at 50 mg litre^?1. DDT uptake (defined as content of DDT+pp'-DDE) was generally higher after exposure to 50 mg than to 10 mg litre^?1. It increased significantly with selection in the TE×NS line; it remained unchanged in the T8 × NS line; and in the other two lines (BSJ × NS and B51 × NS), it increased initially but dropped as selection progressed, the reduction being highly significant in the second of these lines. The amount of internal residual (unmetabolised) DDT tolerated by larvae of the TE × NS line also increased significantly with resistance. The levels in the other lines followed the pattern of uptake, remaining steady in T8 × NS despite the increase in survival, rising at first and then declining in the two Bangkok lines. Thus selection produced a higher tolerance to internal unmetabolised DDT in the two Trinidad lines but led ultimately to a lower content of DDT+pp'-DDE in the two Bangkok lines. The reasons for this behaviour are discussed.     

Excretion of DDT residues into milk of the Indian buffalo,Bubalus bubalis (L.) after oral and dermal exposure

Three groups of buffaloes were fed with 20, 100 and 400 mg of p,p′-DDT in their daily rations. The DDT residues in the milk fat of the treated animals showed an initial rapid rise but soon attained a dose-dependent equilibrium. The transfer coefficient of DDT residues in milk at ‘plateau’ levels showed an average value of about 12%. Half-life values for the rate of decline of DDT residues during the post-dosing period were computed according to a two-open-compartment model. Dermal application of p,p′-DDT to buffaloes also resulted in excretion of a significant amount of its residues in milk. TDE was the predominant compound present in milk when buffaloes had ingested p,p′-DDT, whilst p,p′-DDT itself was present in greater quantity than its metabolites when animals were treated dermally.     

Mechanisms of DDT resistance in larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti L

Larvae of eight strains of Aedes aegypti were exposed to DDT and compared for resistance, DDT uptake, in-vivo breakdown of DDT and residual unmetabolised DDT. Resistance varied widely between strains, three being fully susceptible, two almost immune and three of intermediate resistance. Breakdown of DDT by dehydrochlorination to 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (pp'-DDE) occurred in all strains and was greater in the five resistant types, but there was no significant correlation between the extent of breakdown in the resistant strains and the level of resistance. Moreover the overall difference between susceptible and resistant strains disappeared when they were compared at a low, almost sublethal, concentration of DDT. Larvae of resistant strains carried a greater absolute quantity of unmetabolised DDT in the body and were able to tolerate levels of DDT that were lethal to susceptible larvae. However the two most resistant strains (T8 and B51) contained significantly less DDT plus pp'-DDE than strains of intermediate resistance (T30 and BSJ) from which they had been derived. Addition of the synergist chlorfenethol to DDT increased its knockdown effect on all resistant strains, suggesting that dehydrochlorination was a factor in resistance. Three strains, two DDT-resistant and one DDT-susceptible, were tested with 1,1-bis(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpropane (I), an insecticide that cannot be dehydrochlorinated. All the strains were relatively tolerant to it although the DDT-susceptible strains were less tolerant. Addition of the synergist sesamex decreased the level of tolerance to I in all strains which suggested that microsomal oxidation made some contribution to it. It is concluded that three factors contribute to larval DDT resistance in A. aegypti; (a) increased metabolism to pp'-DDE; (b) increased tolerance to unmetabolised internal DDT; and (c) reduced content of DDT+pp'-DDE (only in the most resistant strains and due either to reduced absorption or increased excretion). These factors are discussed in relation to known larval resistance genes R^DDT1 and y.     

Residues of DDT in cottonseed after spraying with DDT and torbidan

DDT at 1.12 and 2.24 kg/ha a.i. and Torbidan at 5 and 10 litre formulation/ha (1 and 2 kg DDT/ha) were sprayed five times on cotton over a period of 15 weeks. Seeds from the first pick of the crop were found to contain as residues pp′-DDT and pp′-DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-di- (4-chlorophenyl)ethylene]. The highest residue level (0.783 parts/10⁶) was found in seeds from Torbidan 10 litre/ha treatment.     

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane determination in air by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND: Current quantitative methods for airborne dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) require collection and extraction times of ≥ 12 h. The aim of this study was to develop a method for quantifying airborne DDT with a short (<4 h) collection and analysis time. RESULTS: Precision [relative standard deviation (RSD)] for each calibration point (0.8–9.0), linearity (R² = 0.99) and apparent recovery (R′ = 96.5%) were determined from thermal desorption (TD) gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses of Tenax-TA-packed sampling tubes spiked with 1–250 ng of DDT. Recovery of ¹³C-labeled 4,4′-DDT from tubes spiked before and after air sampling was 97.3 and 90.3% respectively. DDT was detected and quantified in 1–3 L samples of air collected during 10–180 min sampling events. A significant difference was observed in DDT air concentration between 28 and 33 °C during microchamber studies. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that the TD GC-MS method developed in this study is precise, reproducible and linear over the span of 1–250 ng of DDT spiked onto TD tubes. By avoiding dilution of the sample, the method described allows the measurement of DDT vapor concentrations during short sampling periods (10–180 min) relevant to mosquito behavior studies. Published 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biota uptake of pesticides by selected plant species; the case study of Kilombero sugarcane plantations in Morogoro Region, Tanzania

This paper reports on biota uptake of pesticides by selected plant species from soil in which they are grown. The study was conducted at Kilombero sugarcane plantations and environs, Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Three species of the plant materials were collected namely sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and mango leaves (Mangifera indica). The sugarcane and guinea grass were used to reveal the plant uptake in the plantations whereas mango leaves were used to represent the environs. GPC cleaned sample extracts were analysed by GC-ECD and GC-NPD and the results confirmed using GC-MS. A total of 16 different pesticide residues were detected in soil samples and only 11 pesticide residues were detected in flora samples. o,p′-DDT had the highest concentration of all detected pesticides in soil samples with a mean concentration of 21.04 μg/kg d.w. whereas the highest concentrations of 17.16 μg/kg d.w. was recorded for p,p′-DDD in flora samples. The other DDT metabolites detected in soil samples were p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD and o,p′-DDD with concentration ranging from 2.00 to 18.30 μg/kg d.w. whereas the other pesticides detected in flora samples were p,p′-DDT α-endosulfan and γ-HCH with a mean concentration range of 3.21 to 13.54 μg/kg d.w. The paired sample t-test showed no significant difference between the concentrations of pesticides in flora and those found in soil.     

Shell and operculum formation by immature roman snails Helix pomatia L. when treated with pp′-DDT

Roman snails (Helix pomatia) have been treated with pp′-DDT from 2 wk of age until hibernation. Taking snail size into account, relatively low doses of DDT significantly reduced shell and operculum weight whereas higher doses of DDT did not cause this response. After reemergence from hibernation, the incidence of operculum eating was significantly higher among snails hibernating late in the season, and as exposure to DDT increased so operculum eating became more prevalent.Shell thinning in snails due to pesticide is likely to have occurred in some heavily treated agricultural localities if the response of other species to DDT is similar to that of Helix pomatia.     

Uptake of DDT and DDE by the quail embryo and chick

Adult female Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were dosed orally with pp'-DDT in order to produce residues of pp'-DDT and pp'-DDE in their eggs. Eggs were incubated and insecticide uptake by the developing embryos and chicks was compared with the results of other authors, who had injected chicken eggs with insecticide solution before incubation. Rate of uptake by quail embryos increased throughout the incubation period. At hatching and 2 days after hatching, the yolk sac was estimated to contain mean amounts of 37% and 7%, respectively, of the total residues in the chick. Quail eggs, without detectable organochlorine residues, were injected with either pp'-DDT or pp'-DDE in olive oil. At 6 days incubation significantly more DDE than DDT was found in the embryo, but this trend had stopped by 10 days incubation. Metabolism of pp'-DDT to pp'DDE was first detected after 9 days incubation. Embryonic development was slower in injected eggs than in eggs from treated females.     

Persistence and binding of DDT and gamma-HCH in a sandy loam soil under field conditions in Delhi,India

Persistence and binding capacity of [¹⁴C]p, p′-DDT and [¹⁴C]y-HCH were studied for one year in a sandy loam soil of Delhi, India, after surface treatment during monsoon, winter and summer seasons under field conditions. Both DDT and HCH dissipated more rapidly under the Indian subtropical climate than reported for temperate regions. In all three seasons, both insecticides dissipated most rapidly during the initial 60 days. However, in the final six months there was very little change in the residue levels. After one year, the final soil burden of DDT varied from 33 to 36% and of HCH from 14 to 15% of the initial concentrations in the different experiments. HCH bound more with the soil as, out of the total residues present after one year, more than 75% of HCH was in bound form compared with only 24% of DDT. The observed time for 50% initial dissipation of DDT ranged from 60 to 120 days, while in the case of HCH it varied from 30 to 45 days. However, the rate of loss of residues which persisted for more than 6 months was equivalent to a half-life of between 500 and 10000 days for DDT, and between 700 and 2000 days for HCH, thus illustrating the very long persistence of aged residues. Since degradation of both insecticides was apparently minimal, the data indicate that dissipation of DDT and HCH was largely due to volatilisation.     

The effect of some DDT and methoxychlor analogs on temperature selection and lethality in brook trout fingerlings

The effects of several DDT and methoxychlor analogs on trout fingerling temperature selection and lethality were investigated. The molecular requirements for lethality and alteration of temperature selection were different. Only p, p′-DDT, p, p′-DDD, and p, p′-methoxychlor were toxic in the range 10–50 ppb used. All the compounds tested, except DDE-type analogs, altered temperature selection. The effect of p, p′-methoxychlor on temperature selection progressively decreased until normal values were obtained 5 days after exposure. The effect of p, p′-DDT was still pronounced 9 days after exposure.     

Long-term effects of DDT on the behavior and central nervous system activity in Periplaneta americana

The effects of p,p′-DDT and four of its analogs on electrical activity in the central nervous system of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), were investigated. Cockroaches were injected intraabdominally with an organochlorine compound at LD₅₀ 96-hr doses (except for p,p′-DDE). Extracellular recordings were made from the central nervous system at 1 hr, 24 hr, or 3 weeks postinjection. p,p′-DDT, methoxychlor, and p,p′-DDD induced behavioral changes (tremors, jitters, hyperexcitability) and repetitive firing in the central nervous system prior to 1 hr postinjection. By 24 hr postinjection, most behavioral signs of poisoning had disappeared, though repetitive firing could still be readily elicited in the central nervous system. Cockroaches injected with o,p′-DDT, however, usually required about 48 hr before overt signs of poisoning became apparent. Cockroaches treated with p,p′-DDT or o,p′-DDT behaved normally at 3 weeks postinjection but still displayed a significant occurrence of repetitive firing in the central nervous system. A mechanism is proposed to explain how a cockroach might recover behaviorally from a sublethal dose of an organochlorine compound but still display repetitive firing in its central nervous system. A direct “cause and effect” relationship between repetitive firing in the central nervous system and mortality (and external signs of poisoning) is therefore questioned.