Abstract
The dechlorination of DDT containing various amounts of the p, p[image] isomes by E. coli grown in skimmilk and various broths was studied at 37 C. The p,p[image] -DDT was dechlorinated to p, p[image] -DDD when grown in various broths but not in skimmilk. The p, p[image] peak of all DDT''s studied was over 50 percent dechlorinated after 2 days and over 90 percent after 7 days. Neither the percent of the p, p[image] isomer nor the type of broth appeared to affect the rate of reductive dechlorination. Unlike the results with broth, there is little change in the structure of the various DDT''s in skimmilk. The skimmilk appeared to inhibit the reductive dechlorination mechanism of E. coli when used as a growth medium.