ORGANOCHLORINE INSECTICIDE RESIDUES IN DEEP-SEA FISH FROM 2500-M IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

Eleven organochlorine insecticide residues were measured in the livers of Antimora rostrata, a deep sea fish collected from 2500 m in 1972, 1973, and 1974 off the east coast of the United States. Compounds present were p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, and dieldrin, while six compounds were not detectable. The ratio of p,p'-DDT to p,p'-DDE decreased from 2.17 in 1972 to 1.00 in 1974. The mean concentration of total DDT residues in the fish livers for the entire period was 7.06 mg/wet kg, similar in magnitude to the concentration of DDT residues found in lipid-rich livers of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from shallow waters of the Atlantic coast of Canada. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.