Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Pesticides in Major U.S. River Basins. A Synoptic View

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Extensive surveillance for chlorinated hydrocarbons and other synthetic organic pollutants has been underway by the Public Health Service for several years. Recent development of analytical procedures capable of measuring pesticides in the parts-per-trillion range on grab samples made it desirable to conduct a special synoptic survey of pesticide pollution in the various USA river systems during Sept. 1964. In order of frequency of occurrence, dieldrin, endrin, DDT, and DDE were found in all major river basins. Heptachlor and aldrin were less abudant. DDD was detected at only one sampling station; presumptive evidence of benzene hexachloride was observed at only one station; and no indication of heptachlor epoxide was seen at any station. These latter results may have been due to the lower sensitivity of the procedure for these 3 compounds. Generally, both the occurrences and concentrations found in grab samples from the synoptic survey were in accord with the results of previous analyses of samples obtained by the carbon adsorption method. A reference library of stored extracts from more than 5,000 samples collected at 108 pollution surveillance stations since 1958 is being reexamined, as time permits, to develop data on rates at which pesticide levels in the nation''s surface waters have changed.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: