Residual pesticide concentrations in Bear Creek, Mississippi, 1976 to 1979

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5944877

Cooper, C M; Dendy, F E; McHenry, J R; Ritchie, J C

Concentrations of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2-2,-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane), DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene), DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane), and toxaphene (chlorinated camphene) were measured in surface waters, soils, storm runoff, and deposited bottom sediments along the 83-km length of Bear Creek. This creek is a Mississippi River alluvial stream, which includes six riverine lakes in an intensively cultivated 44 260-ha watershed. Low concentrations of pesticides were persistent in surface waters of the creek from the headwaters to the confluence with the Yazoo River with no significant differences in concentrations between sites on the creek or in isolated offstream lakes. Pesticide concentrations increased during periods of maximum runoff, which corresponded with the winter rainy season and minimum vegetative cover on the soil. Seven years after spraying had ceased, DDT was still available to surface waters and aquatic biota by way of eroded soil from farm fields and from deposited sediments in stream and lake bottoms. No significant declines in concentrations of DDT in surface waters were found in comparisons with two earlier studies nor were any declines in surface water contamination noted during this 3-yr study.

• Research Organization: USDA-ARS, Oxford, MS
• OSTI ID: 5944877
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 16:1; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
CONTAMINATION
DDT
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION IV
INSECTICIDES
MASS TRANSFER
MISSISSIPPI
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
RUNOFF
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER POLLUTION