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Reductive Dechlorination of DDT by Escherichia coli¹

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington

ABSTRACT

Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides are fairly resistant to microbial degradation. The literature on the microbial degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, other than DDT, is limited. Several investigators (1,2,4,6–8) have reported the reductive dechlorination of DDT [1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane] to DDD [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane] by microorganisms. Mendel and Walton (6) suggest that the normal flora of the gastrointestinal tract is the main source of the p,p'-DDD found in animals fed p,p'-DDT, rather than the liver, as suggested by other workers (3).

This study was made to obtain more information on the conversion of DDT to DDD by Escherichia coli.

Experimental Procedure

Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 was grown in trypticase soy broth (TSB) for 24 hr at 37 C, and 1 ml was inoculated into each flask of sterile test medium used.

The reductive dechlorination of 77.2% p,p'-DDT, and 99.3% p,p'-DDT was studied in TSB, nutrient broth, brain heart infusion broth, Difco skimmilk, and Matrix. Trypticase soy broth and Difco skimmilk were used to study the reductive dechlorination of 99.3, 97.6, 77.2 p,p'-DDT, Technical DDT, and 70% p,p'-DDD.

¹ The investigation reported in this article (no. 67-5-6) is in connection with a project of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with approval of the Director.