


(Barker et al., 1965). This organism, commonly found in the gut of mice 
and other animals, quickly invades dead tissue and could be assumed to be 
an agent, if not the sole one, in the conversion of DDI to DDD in animals 
exposed to DDT. DDD, in turn, was metabolized by Proteus vulgaris to 
three compounds: 1) 1,1'~bis-(p-chloropheny1) ~2-chloroethane; 2) 1,1'- 
bis-(p-chloropheny1l)-ethane; 3) 1,1'-bis-(p-chlorophenyl-2-chloroethylene; 
(Barker and Morrison, 1965). 
The latter compound was also obtained from bullhead fish (Bridges 
et al., 1963). Recent studies showed that bovine rumen fluid was capable 
of converting DDT to DDD (Miskus et al., 1965), and that bacteria from the 
intestines of flies (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) converted DDI to DDE and DDD 
(Stenersen, 1965). 
Still another pathway was indicated by studies with the Rhesus monkey 
(Durham et al., 1963). When fed DDT, monkeys did not store easily detect- 
able DDE, in contrast to the situation in man and the rat. However, when 
DDE was fed, the monkey accumulated DDE. Since all three species excreted 
some DDA, it must be assumed that DDA can be produced without DDE as an 
intermediate metabolite. Recent studies have also shown that, when o,p'-DDT 
was fed to rats, a biological isomeric transformation of o,p'-DDT to p,p'-DDT 
occurred (Klein et al., 1965). 
Investigation showed that DDT was susceptible to ultraviolet action 
and could undergo decomposition to the benzophenone analog (Fleck, 1949). 
In aqueous media and in the presence of reduced porphyrins, DDI is converted 
to DDD (Miskus et al., 1965). 
75 
