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Geospatial and Temporal Inventory for Industrial DDT Waste Disposal to a Deep Coastal Ocean Environment
Mong Sin Christine Wu1, Jacob T Schmidt2, Hailie E Kittner2
1Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States.
Environmental Science & Technology
|September 18, 2025
Summary
Historical ocean dumping of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) created hotspots of contamination in San Pedro Basin. This study quanties the DDT, DDD, and DDE burden, revealing ongoing ecological risks from deep-sea waste.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Marine Geology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Industrial DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) waste was historically dumped in the deep ocean off Southern California.
- The ecological impacts and deep-sea fate of this waste are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the spatial distribution and depositional history of DDT and its breakdown products (DDD, DDE) in San Pedro Basin.
- To estimate the total modern environmental burden of these contaminants.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an 814 km² survey of the primary disposal area.
- Mapped the distribution and deposition of DDT, DDD, and DDE in sediments.
Main Results:
- Found highly elevated concentrations of DDT, DDD, and DDE throughout the study area.
- Identified "hotspots" from primary disposal and secondary migration.
- Estimated a total modern burden of approximately 30-36 tonnes of DDT, DDD, and DDE.
Conclusions:
- Historical ocean disposal has resulted in significant, widespread DDT contamination in San Pedro Basin.
- DDE persists in surface sediments, potentially linked to the Palos Verdes Shelf.
- These findings are crucial for understanding deep-sea contaminant transport and ecological impacts.
