The persistent organic pesticides have saved millions of lives by controlling human disease vectors and by greatly increasing the yields of agricultural crops. However, in recent years man has become ever more conscious of the way in which his environment is becoming increasingly polluted by chemicals that may harm plants, animals or even himself. Amongst these chemicals the organochlorine insecticides have been well to the fore as a major cause of anxiety to ecologists, not only because they persist so long, but also because of the readiness with which they are taken up into the bodies of living organisms, especially the fatty tissues of both animals and humans. The extent and seriousness of the potential hazards due to these chemicals still remains to be fully defined. Our information on the occur­ rence of residues in the various parts of the environment is very uneven and localized. For instance, whereas we have a great deal of data on residues in North America, we know virtually nothing about the extent of pesticide contamination in Africa, South America and much of Asia, although large amounts of organochlorine insecticides have been used in these areas.

Inhalt

1 Methods and Problems in Analysing for Pesticide Residues in the Environment.- 2 Pesticide Residues in Plants.- 3 Pesticide Residues in Soil Invertebrates.- 4 Pesticide Residues in Aquatic Invertebrates.- 5 Pesticide Residues in Fish.- 6 Effects of Pesticides on Fish.- 7 Pesticide Residues in Birds and Mammals.- 8 Pesticide Residues in Man.- 9 Pesticide Residues in Food.- 10 Pesticides in the Atmosphere.- 11 Pesticide Residues in Soil and Water.- 12 Dynamics of Pesticide Residues in the Environment.- 13 Degradation of Pesticide Residues in the Environment.- Appendix: General References.- General Index.- Chemical Index.