title: DDT concentration in fish from the Tapajós River in the Amazon region, Brazil.
abstract: DDT and metabolites were measured in six species of fish collected from the Tapajós River in the village of Barreiras, near the town of Itaituba in the Brazilian Amazon region. The selected fish were the most consumed and economically important to the local people. DDT was used frequently in this region for malaria control. Fish samples were analyzed after extraction by microwave-assisted extraction in hexane/acetone (8:2, v/v) by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. Residues of op'-DDT and pp'-DDT and metabolites were detected, including pp'-DDE, pp'-DDD, op'-DDT, and op'-DDE, in 98% of the samples, with a greater abundance of pp'-DDT. Total DDT levels were 7.1-249.5 ng g(-1) wet weight (w.w). The DDE/DDT ratio was low, indicating recent exposure to DDT. The study area that may be related to generated waste used in public health campaigns to combat mosquitos (Anopheles spp.), still present in the Amazon environment, that transmit malaria. DDT levels and metabolites found in fish species do not present risks to human health because they are below acceptable limits for consumption.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Evandro Chagas, Seção de Meio Ambiente, Laboratório de Toxicologia, 67030-000, P.O. Box 1530, Ananindeua, PA, Brazil. Electronic address: rosivaldomendes@iec.pa.gov.br.
authors.forename: Rosivaldo de Alcântara
authors.initials: Rde A
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Pará, Faculdade de Química, P.O. Box 479, 67075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anna Sylmara da Costa
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Instituto Evandro Chagas, Seção de Meio Ambiente, Laboratório de Toxicologia, 67030-000, P.O. Box 1530, Ananindeua, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Costa
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Instituto Evandro Chagas, Seção de Meio Ambiente, Laboratório de Toxicologia, 67030-000, P.O. Box 1530, Ananindeua, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo de Oliveira
authors.initials: Mde O
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Pará, Faculdade de Química, P.O. Box 479, 67075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lourivaldo da Silva
authors.initials: Lda S
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control; D045483:Rivers
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D003634:DDT
keywords: Amazon; DDT; Fish; Species