Organochlorine residues in fish: National Pesticide Monitoring Program, 1970-74
As part of the National Pesticide Monitoring Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service analyzed organochlorine contaminant residues in fish samples collected from about 100 stations each year from 1970 to 1974. During this period, mean residues of DDT and its metabolites declined nationally but remained widespread, and high concentrations continued to be present in areas where DDT use was extensive. Results of interlaboratory crosscheck analyses supported these conclusions, despite interpretation problems posed by intercompound analytical interferences in 1970 and 1971. Temporal trends in PCB residues were less obvious. Highest PCB residues were found in the industrialized areas of the Northwest and Midwest, and traces were present at most stations. Dieldrin and endrin residues remained essentially unchanged during this period; dieldrin residues were widespread and were highest in Hawaii and in areas of the Midwest where aldrin was used extensively. Toxaphene occurrence increased; it was formerly found only in fish from streams draining cotton-farming regions, but residues were detected in 1974 samples from other areas. According to the recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences' Water Quality Criteria, organochlorine residues in freshwater fish may have represented a hazard to piscivorous fish and wildlife at 71 percent of the stations sampled in 1970 and 66 percent in 1974.
- Research Organization:
- Columbia National Fisheries Research Laboratory, Columbia, MO
- OSTI ID:
- 5674998
- Journal Information:
- Pestic. Monit. J.; (United States), Vol. 14:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
INSECTICIDES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
DDT
DIELDRIN
FISHES
METABOLITES
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
VERTEBRATES
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560305 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)