ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDE COMPOUNDS IN ORGANISMS FROM THE BAY OF BENGAL

Zooplankton and bottom-feeding fish (four species) from the coastal Ba y of Bengal were analysed for residues of DDT, DDD, DDE and aldrin. Co ncentrations of t-DDT (DDT+DDD+DDE) ranging from 1.31 to 115.90 ng g-1 wet weight in different fish tissues and 4.00 to 1587.76 ng g-1 wet w eight in zooplankton were found. Aldrin levels were of the order of 0. 32-4.23 ng g-1 in the fish tissues and 'not detected' to 0.78 ng g-1 i n zooplankton. The concentration levels are discussed in relation to t he distribution of the compounds in different fish tissues, difference s in the proportion of DDT and its metabolites DDE and DDD in the vari ous organisms and the possible influence of suspended particulate matt er on the availability of DDT residues to organisms in the water colum n.