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Take Two

Scientists-turned-detectives look to crack the case of the missing DDT

By Take Two Staff
Published Dec 4, 2013
Bill Power of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County prepares to drop a core into the ocean to gather sediment samples in the waters off Palos Verdes. In the 50's and 60's, Montrose chemical company dumped DDT into the water.
Bill Power of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County prepares to drop a core into the ocean to gather sediment samples in the waters off Palos Verdes. In the 50's and 60's, Montrose chemical company dumped DDT into the water.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Joe Gully, a supervising environmental scientist for the Ocean Monitoring Research Group at the Sanitation Districts of LA County, prepares to gather samples in the water near Palos Verdes.
Joe Gully, a supervising environmental scientist for the Ocean Monitoring Research Group at the Sanitation Districts of LA County, prepares to gather samples in the water near Palos Verdes.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Bill Power demonstrates how sediment gets trapped in a core when it is dropped into the ground.
Bill Power demonstrates how sediment gets trapped in a core when it is dropped into the ground.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
A core is lowered into the water to gather a sediment samples from the Palos Verdes peninsula.
The core is lowered into the water to gather a sediment sample. Remote video cameras and a tilt sensor attached to the core help ensure the core goes upright into the ocean floor.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Deck hand Robert Harper of the Sanitation Districts of LA County calls out how deep the core is in the water as it is lowered.
Deck hand Robert Harper of the Sanitation Districts of LA County calls out how deep the core is in the water as it is lowered.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Water pours out of the top of the core after they gather a sample. It takes about two weeks to gather 79 cores from 69 different locations in the waters near Palos Verdes.
Water pours out of the top of the core after they gather a sample. It takes about two weeks to gather 79 cores from 69 different locations in the waters near Palos Verdes.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
A sediment sample is pushed out of the core and sealed. The sample will be split and tested by both a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contract lab and the Sanitation Districts of LA County.
A sediment sample is pushed out of the core and sealed. The sample will be split and tested by both a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contract lab and the Sanitation Districts of LA County.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Sanitation Districts of LA County Biologist Chase McDonald pours dry ice around the sediment sample to freeze it.
Sanitation Districts of LA County Biologist Chase McDonald pours dry ice around the sediment sample to freeze it.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Biologists Terra Petry, left, and Chase McDonald of the Sanitation Districts of LA County look at data from the tilt sensor on the core. The data shows that the core did not go in straight, and need to redo the sample.
Biologists Terra Petry, left, and Chase McDonald of the Sanitation Districts of LA County look at data from the tilt sensor on the core. The data shows that the core did not go in straight, and need to redo the sample.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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Scientists-turned-detectives look to crack the case of the missing DDT

Something's afoot in the ocean off the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and it's drawing out the detective instincts of scientists. Call it the case of the missing DDT.

Over decades, tons of the pesticide flowed through LA County's sewers. It settled into the world's largest underwater toxic hotspot, but in recent tests, that contamination has all but vanished. KPCC's Molly Peterson talked with researchers working to crack the case.