Transformation and form of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) applied to Moscow soils

Abstract

The transformation rate and direction of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its forms entering the surface layers of Moscow soils have been analyzed. The DDT transformation rate into metabolites—dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and dichlor diphenyl dichloroethane (DDD)—is small. In 75% of soils, less than half the initial pesticide is transformed. In 67.5% of soils, formation of DDD predominates in the DDE formation. In soils of the entire area of Moscow, 16% of DDT was transformed into DDE and 23% into DDD. The о,n′-DDT to n,n′-DDT ratio is <0.3 for 95% of soils, and the mean ratio is 0.1, which is typical for application of DDT as a technical product.