Accumulation and distribution of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites in various tissues of golden jackal, Canis aureus

In this study, the concentration of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites including, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDT were determined in liver, kidney, muscle, fat and hair tissues in 21 golden jackal (Canis aureus) from Mazandaran province. Analyses were carried out by Gas Chromatography - Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD). The metabolite o, p'-DDE showed the highest concentration (83%) in all tissues. DDE/DDT ratios showed that DDTs have not recently been used in the area. Generally lower concentration of DDTs is not enough to cause harmful effects in animals. This investigation may be a basis for future studies on other mammals in Iran.