The Accumulation of DDT in Lake Trout and the Effect on Reproduction

Abstract

Hatchery losses of lake trout fry from areas of high DDT use led to a 4-year study of the accumulation of the chemical in fish flesh and eggs from a number of waters in New York. Graphs are presented to indicate the range of DDT content of ether-extracted oils from spawning female lake trout and a comparison of the amount in the oil of the adult with that in the eggs. No constant relationship was found. A procedure is described to relate the mass of the fry at the time of development of the syndrome associated with the mortality to the DDT in the ether-extracted oil of the eggs. Graphical plotting of the concentration in the mass of the fry shows a relatively close relationship between the p.p.m. of DDT and the mortality.