GAMMA-IRRADIATION-INDUCED DEGRADATION OF ORGANOCHLORINATED POLLUTANTSIN FATTY-ACID ESTERS AND IN COD

The gamma irradiation-induced degradation of 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1 ,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT), 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane (DDD), and 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE) dissolv ed in methyl myristate and methyl oleate was studied. DDT and DDE prod uced DDD and 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)chloroethylene (DDMU) respectively , in agreement with a previous study performed with aliphatic solvents . The degradation of these two former compounds was larger in methyl m yristate than in methyl oleate and addition products between methyl my ristate and the organochlorines were found. While DDD, DDE, and many P CB congeners in a cod sample were not measurably degraded at 15 kGy, D DT underwent 30% degradation.