An Evaluation of DDT and Dieldrin in Lake Michigan, 1972

Abstract

The presence of pesticides and particularly the chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides in Lake Michigan water is responsible for biological accumulations that affect a wide variety of legitimate uses. The data collected from waters, wastewaters, invertebrate organisms and fish all suggest that DDT plus analogs and dieldrin are observed consistently at levels that warrant concern from both a public health and wildlife preservation standpoint. The sources of these chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides include not only industrial and wastewater effluents but also diffuse sources such as from agricultural activities and municipal pest control programs. The evaluation of the chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides in both wastewater and biological specimens is complicated by the presence of products such as polychlorinated biphenyls and phthalates. These products interfere with the analysis for the target insecticide and, indeed, have biological implications of their own. This report is submitted in fulfillment of four cooperative grants to the Lake Michigan Enforcement Conference participating state under the sponsorship of the Environmental Protection Agency and include grant numbers 16050 EYV (Wisconsin), 16050 EYS (Indiana), 16050 EFV (Michigan) and 16050 ESP (Illinois) for an investigation of "Evaluation of Pesticide Sources and Levels Tributary to lake Michigan".