DDT intoxication in birds: Subchronic effects and brain residues

Abstract

After 5 days on ad libitum diets containing 25 to 800 ppm of technical DDT, the concentrations of DDT, DDE, and DDD in the brains of farm-reared bobwhite ( Colinus virgianus) could be correlated with dietary concentrations. Weight losses were significant when dietary concentrations reached 400 ppm but there were no other toxic signs. A diet of 800 ppm DDT produced mild signs of intoxication and total brain residues of 5.6–22.3 ppm. A diet containing 1600 ppm DDT caused severe toxic signs culminating in convulsions and death. Analysis of the brain showed an average concentration of DDD + DDT to be 28.4 ppm. The average concentrations of DDD + DDT in the brain of various species were: house sparrows ( Passer domesticus), 43.2 ppm; wild bobwhite, 31.3 ppm; farm-reared bobwhite, 28.4 ppm; cardinals ( Richmondena cardinalis), 26.7 ppm; and blue jays ( Cyanocitta cristata), 23.0 ppm. In bobwhite, cardinals, and blue jays concentrations in the brain ranging from 20 to 25 ppm strongly implicate DDT as the lethal agent. A concentration of 32.6 ppm in the brain of house sparrows was indicative of DDT poisoning.