Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Persistence of DDT in Wild Populations of Small Mammals

Abstract

THE protracted persistence of DDT and some other organochlorine insecticides in soils is well documented1,2. While it has also been shown that these persistent residues can contaminate a resident fauna3, there has been little indication of the duration of this relationship once treatment ceases, except for observations covering a year or two4,5. We now present data of pesticide residues from small mammals covering a period of 9 years after single applications of DDT applied to forests at a rate of 0.89 kg/hectare (1 pound/acre). These treatments were for control of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), in northern Maine, United States.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nash, R. G., and Woolson, E. A., Science, 157, 924 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Woodwell, G. M., and Martin, F. T., Science, 145, 481 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Woodwell, G. M., Wurster, C. F., and Isaacson, P. A., Science, 156, 821 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cole, H., Barry, D., and Frear, D. E. H., Bull. Environmental Contamination Toxicol., 2, 127 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Meeks, R. O., J. Wildlife Management, 32, 376 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Webb, F. E., Blais, J. R., and Nash, R. W., Canad. Entomol., 93, 360 (1961).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Dimond, J. B., Kadunce, R. E., Getchell, A. S., and Blease, J. A., Bull. Environmental Contamination Toxicol., 3, 194 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Dimond, J. B., Kadunce, R. E., Getchell, A. S., and Blease, J. A., Ecology, 49, 759 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wurster, C. F., Wurster, D. H., and Strickland, W. N., Science, 148, 90 (1965).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bernard, R. F., and Gaertner, R. A., J. Mammal., 45, 272 (1964).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Jones, F. J. S., and Summers, D. D. B., Nature, 217, 1162 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ames, P. L., in Pesticides in the Environment and Their Effects on Wildlife, Suppl. J. Appl. Ecol. (edit. by Moore, N. W.) (Blackwell, 1966).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

DIMOND, J., SHERBURNE, J. Persistence of DDT in Wild Populations of Small Mammals. Nature 221, 486–487 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/221486a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/221486a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing