Evaluation of the toxic risk of DDT in the rat: during accumulation.

An investigation was undertaken on the accumulation of DDT and its metabolites in the rat. Rats received 14.5 mg DDT/kg b.w. every day for 52 days. Growth, food intake, body composition, and the activities of various enzymes were little affected. However, the level of total lipids fell 30% and the weight of the liver rose 20% due to cellular hypertrophy induced by the DDT. The quantity of DDT and its metabolites found in the carcass was 24 mg/rat i.e. three times that found in rats dead after a single dose of 200 mg/kg. Liver and brain contained 130 micrograms/rat and 10 micrograms/rat, respectively i.e. five times lower than those found in the rats which died from an acute dose of DDT. In the carcass, p,p' DDT accumulates more than p,p' DDE or p,p' DDD; the latter is preponderant in the liver.