ACCUMULATION AND DISSIPATION OF DIELDRIN IN MATURE WETHERS IN THE SOUTH-WEST OF WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

The concentrations of dieidrin in body and wool fats of wethers grazed on 6 dieldrin-contaminated sites in the south-west of Western Austral ia were monitored over 2.5 years, Soil and pasture concentrations of d ieldrin, a legacy of previous horticultural activities at these sites, were also measured. The concentrations of dieldrin in the soils varie d from about 0.2 to 1.7 mg/kg. The production of the pastures at all s ites showed a typical Mediterranean pattern with peak production in sp ring. The quantity of dry matter available ranged from <1000 kg/ha dur ing summer-autumn to 10000 kg/ha in spring. In some samples the concen tration of dieldrin in the dried plant material was above the accepted limit of 0.01 mg/kg for fresh material, but there were decreases over spring because of the substantial increase in the amount of dry matte r available. The concentrations of dieldrin in the body and wool fats of the wethers increased during the winter and peaked at the start of spring, with the highest mean concentrations (mg/kg) in 1989 of 0.09-1 .10 in body fats and 0.07-0.63 in wool fats. During spring the concent rations decreased and were at relatively low levels at the start of su mmer, with mean concentrations (mg/kg) of 0.02-0.72 in body fats and 0 .01-0.18 in wool fats. Detailed results from 2 sites are discussed: Ca rbunup, with poorly structured loam soil; and Donnybrook, with good lo am soil. On paddocks contaminated with dieldrin, production of wool wi th low concentrations of dieldrin is possible. If sheep grazed on cont aminated paddocks are to be slaughtered, they should be sold in late s pring, when concentrations of organochlorines in body fat should be lo w, or they should be run on uncontaminated land for about 2 months bef ore their sale for slaughter.