PUBLICATIONS - Organochlorine compounds in the aquatic environment


                                               June 6, 1972

QUALITY OF WATER BRANCH TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 72.16

Subject: PUBLICATIONS - Organochlorine compounds in the 
                        aquatic environment

The attached report by Marvin Yates on organochlorine 
compounds in the aquatic environment is furnished for your 
use in planning water quality programs.  Dr. Yates places 
emphasis on the ubiquity of PCB's in our environmcnt, and the 
importance of knowing the extent of their buildup in streams 
and lakes.

Please note the availability of analytical services for PCB 
determinations at our Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas 
laboratories. PCB analysis is accomplished by the multiple 
pesticide residue analysis techniques currently employed by 
WRD laboratories. No additional extraction for PCB's is 
required. Because of the current interest and concern about 
environmental PCB residues (see attached article), and 
because of the necessity of distinguishing PCB's from the DDT 
family of pesticides when they are present, it is recommended 
that all pesticide residue analyses include quantitation and 
reporting of PCB residues when they are dctected. An 
additional charge will be made for this service. The 
Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas laboratories should be 
contacted directly for specific analytical costs and 
additional information on analytical capabilities.

A very recent publication (May 1972) entitled "PCB's and the 
Environment" has been prepared by an Interdepartmental Task 
Force on PCB's, and may be purchased at a cost of $6.00 from 
the National Technical Information Service (Dept. of 
Commerce), Springfield, Virginia, 22151, as COM 72-10419. 
The 180-page publication is recommended to anyone seeking 
in-depth information on the subject. Requests for additional 
information should be directed to the Quality of Water 
Branch.



                     R. J. Pickering
                     Chief, Quality of Water Branch

Attachments 2

WRD Distribution
A, FO- LS, PO