Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide residues in freshwater fishes within the South Florida Water Management District; Technical Memorandum
Milleson JF. 1980. Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide residues in freshwater fishes within the South Florida Water Management District; Technical Memorandum. South Florida Water Management District
Samples of fish were collected from freshwater habitats in central and south Florida from 1970 to 1978 for analysis of persistent pesticide residues. Residues of four chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides (DDT, dieldrin, chlordane and toxaphene) and one industrial compound (PCB) were found in nearly all fish samples from almost every location. Pesticide residues were highest in fish collected from watersheds influenced by drainage water from agricultural areas. Fish collected from the Kissimmee River Basin contained extremely low levels of pesticides. Concentrations of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds in whole fish from central and southern Florida freshwater habitats were considerably lower than in fish from many other watersheds in the United States. Pesticide concentrations reported from whole fish in this study were less than Food and Drug Administation tolerance levels established for edible portions of fish. DDT concentration in fish from agriculturally influenced areas in south Florida generally ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 ppm. Fish samples collected from the Kissimmee River Basin had DDT residues of 0.03 ppm or less. High toxaphene residues of 5.0 ppm were reported in some specimens from agriculturally influenced watersheds in 1971. By 1978 the highest toxaphene residue had declined to 2.7 ppm in the agriculturally influenced areas. There was no other consistent increase or decrease in concentrations of pesticide residues in the areas examined between 1970 and 1978.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Milleson, James
- Date of Issue
- 1980-03
- Publisher
- South Florida Water Management District
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Aquatic Ecosystem, bass, chlordane, DDT, Monitoring, PCB, Pesticide residue, Pesticides, point-source pollution, sampled fish, toxaphene, Water Management