Residues of DDT in a Norwegian fruitgrowing district two and four years after the termination of DDT usage

Abstract

This study describes the extent of DDT contamination in a typical fruit growing district in Norway two and four years after the DDT ban. Residues of DDT in man, dairy cows and soil were about five to one hundred times higher than in the control groups, while residues found in samples from the marine biota were the same or moderately higher (Figure 3). The residues of DDT in cows, gulls and parts of the marine samples showed a significant decrease from 1972 to 1974, while the level in soil was almost constant. The amount of DDE had increased considerably in 1974 for all the species except for the gull, although not to the same degree. The distribution of DDE, DDD and DDT in soil were almost constant during the two years of sampling.