Abstract |
Estuarine sediments, crabs, shrimps, and fishes were collected in June 1972 at eleven stations two years after aerial applications of mirex bait for control of fire ants in coastal areas near Charleston, S.C. These stations had previously been monitored (October 1969 to June 1971) when levels of mirex in animal samples were: crabs, 0-0.60 ppm; shrimps, 0-1.3 ppm; and fishes, 0-0.82 ppm. The recent study showed that mirex was present in three species of fishes (white catfish, 0.021 ppm; bluegill, 0.047 ppm; carp 0.12 ppm) and blue crabs (0.026 ppm) at two freshwater stations. However, mirex was not detected in 36 animal samples, most of which were taken from nine saline stations in the estuaries after a period of restricted use of the pesticide. Analysis of bottom sediment samples at all stations detected no mirex. The lower limit of detection for mirex was 0.01 ppm. |