BHC and DDT residues of some rice crops and soils in the Philippines

Abstract

Abstract Rice seed, plant, and soil samples from the provinces of Iloilo, Dulacan, Nueva Ecija, the Mountain Province, and Palawan in the Philippines were analyzed for the presence of the tour BHe isomers (α, γ, β, σ) and of DDT. Low levels of the four BHC isomers were detected in all the samples. The plants generally had a higher DHe content than the soil. The amounts of γ-BHC found in the grain and hull were below the tolerance limit set by the United States Food and Drug Administration. DDT and its metabolites were identified in Palawan and the Mountain Province. The presence of DDT in the samples could have been due to the contamination from the DDT sprayed for malaria control in the dwelling places where the rice was stored.