Organochlorine and Organophosphorus Residues in Fat of Bovine and Porcine Carcasses Marketed in Ontario, Canada from 1969 to 1981

Abstract

Between 1969 and 1981, 2482 bovine and 554 porcine carcasses were sampled at provincially inspected abattoirs across Ontario. Abdominal fats were composited into 505 bovine and 122 porcine samples for analyses of organochlorine insecticides and industrial chemicals. Mean ∑DDT residues decreased from 257 μg/kg in 1969–70 to 12 μg/kg in 1981 for bovine fats and from 356 μg/kg in 1971–72 to 5 μg/kg in 1981 for porcine fats. Similar decreases in residue levels were observed for PCB. Dieldrin, with lower initial residues (i.e. 33 μg/kg in bovine fat and 12 μg/kg in porcine), decreased an order of magnitude over this same period. All decreases fitted first order logarithmic regression equations. Chloradane and heptachlor epoxide were rarely observed in bovine or porcine fat; however, the incidence in bovine fat increased after 1973 following the removal of aldrin, dieldrin and heptachlor in 1969 for soil insect control and the subsequent increased use of chlordane. Chlordane appeared at low levels (1–2 μg/kg) in bovine fat during the mid 1970s and remained detectable through 1981. Lindane residues in both bovine and porcine fat fluctuated from year to year and appeared to vary with the need to control insect pests. While present (2 to 39 μg/kg) in the early 1970s, lindane residues disappeared by mid 1970 but reappeared in fatty tissues in 1981 (3–13 μg/kg). A limited number of samples were analyzed for organophosphorus insecticides between 1973 and 1980 and residues were occasionally found. In 1981, the analyses became routine and 3.6% of bovine samples were found to contain detectable residues of fenthion; only 2 of 197 bovine samples exceeded the maximum residue levels permitted under the Food and Drug Act.