An investigation was carried out to determine the residual tendency of DDT and its derivatives in the sediment of Lake Biwa, Japan, where the banning of DDT took effect some 15 years ago. Of the two basins shaping Lake Biwa, the frequency of detection of DDT was higher in the Northern Basin than in the Southern Basin. In the Southern Basin, the area of DDT detection was more confined than that of DDE detection. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that DDT has been decomposing more rapidly in the Southern Basin than in the Northern Basin. Based on the profile obtained for the vertical distribution of DDTs, it can be inferred also that the amount of DDT and DDE flowing in from land has been decreasing in the past years. DDT has hardly been decomposing into DDE at the deeper part of the Lake.

Lake Biwa, sediment, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, decomposition residues, organochlorine pesticide
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© IWA Publishing 1992
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