Use of chromous chloride for the confirmation of heptachlor residues by derivatization

Residues in cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki) and California newts (Tarichia torosa) from a lake treated with technical chlordane

The water of a lake was sprayed with technical chlordane to give a concentration of approximately 10 ppb. Resident California newts (Tarichia torosa) and cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki) were subsequently collected and analyzed for residue concentrations. The newts were collected at 14, 279, 451, and 1,036 days; the trout at 93, 279, 421, and 1,014 days. At first, the concentrations of residues were very high in both species and their composition, except for heptachlor, resembled that of technical chlordane. The heptachlor was quantitatively epoxidized in news after 14 days but in trout, some heptachlor was still present after 93 days. Concentrations of total chlordane in body tissues of both species declined more than 98% with time. Of seven individually determined constituents of technical chlordane, trans-nonachlor was by far the most persistent, accounting for 49 to 55% of total chlordane in specimens collected last. Both animals produced oxychlordane, probably from gamma-chlordane. Heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide and gamma-chlordeine were non-detectable in both species after 279 days. The results strongly suggest that the California newt metabolizes and eliminates chlordane residues more effectively than the cutthroat trout.