Studies were conducted with the mold Fusarium oxysporum (Schl.) to 
elucidate the metabolic pathway. DDD was formed directly and from DDE. 
DDMU, DDOH, DDA, and DCB were also observed. Formation of the aldehyde 
(DDHO) was presumed on the basis of indirect proof. The formation of DDOH 
and DDA was suggested as arising from dismutation of the aldehyde (1565). 
Several pure cultures of the fungus Trichoderma Viride were tested. 
Of eighteen variants, eight cultures produced DDD and kelthane from DDT; 
3 produced DDD only; one produced DDD and DDE; and six were unable to 
degrade DDT under the test conditions used (1622). 
eis led DDT was added to soil and the mixture was incubated 
anaerobically for two weeks. At that time, 10% of the radioactivity was 
in DDD, 88% in DDT, and less than 2% in other products: DDA; DDE; Kelthane; 
4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone; 4,4'-dichlorodiphenylmethane; and p-chlorobenzoic 
acid. After four weeks of incubation, 62% of the radioactivity was in DDD; 
34% in DDT, and 4% in other products (572).DDD formed in submerged soil(1736). 
After spraying with an emulsifiable concentrate, the loss of DDT from 
foilage was studied. The residue fell to 40% of the initial deposit after 
three weeks and 4% after 11 weeks. Whereas the original spray contained 
only o,p'-and p,p'-DDT, o,p'- and p,p'-DDE appeared during the first week. 
After 11 weeks, traces of p,p'-DDD and p,p'-dichlorobenzophenone appeared. 
The persistence of DDD was comparable with that of DDT (618). 
Under UV-irradiation crystalline DDT changed its physical and chemical 
properties and insecticidal activity (1430). Irradiation of p,p'-DDT at 
2537A gave rise to p,p'-DDE which underwent further conversion to a number 
of compounds (122, 1073, 1228) including dichlorobenzophenone (462). A 
small portion of p,p'-DDD was dehydrochlorinated (1228). 
TDE was converted to TDEE in tobacco smoke. TIDE, TDEE, and DDA were 
found in the urine of New Zealand Red rabbits that had been exposed to 
cigarette smoke containing labeled TDE. [In the fat, vital organs, and 
other tissues, TDE and TDEE were found (147). 
Processing of food (437), boiling of vegetables (642), drying of 
milk into powder (853), or baking or frying of birds (1212) caused decompo- 
sition of DDT to DDD primarily. 
In aqueous media and in the presence of reduced porphyrins, DDT was 
converted to DDD (1012). MIron porphyrin complexes are present in all 
aerobic organisms. When dilute solutions of Fe” porphyrins (Fe™D) were 
exposed to DDT at room temperature, the porphyrin complex was rapidly 
oxidized. The rate of oxidation of Fett by DDT was estimated from the 
slopes of concentration vs. time plots at various initial concentrations 
134 

