Behavior and Fate of 14C-DDE (1, 1-Dichloro-2, 2-Bis (4-Chlorophenyl) Ethylene) in Rice Ecosystem.

Behavior of 14C-DDE (1, 1-dichloro-2, 2-bis (4-Chlorophenyl) Ethylene), a major degradation product of DDT (1, 1, 1-tricholoro-2, 2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane), was studied in a model rice ecosystem. Samples of rice plant, algae, soil and seed were collected at regular intervals and analyzed for DDE residues.14C-DDE residues in water declined rapidly initially for the first 8 days and then gradually for the next 25 days. Algae, which are an integral part of the rice ecosystem, also showed bioaccumulation of DDE up to 0.016% within 30 days. Soil samples showed considerable 14C residues in both extractable (up to 50%) as well as bound (up to 10-11%) form. Rice plants and seeds did not show any detectable 14C-residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]