Organochlorine pesticide residues in human fat in Great Britain

In order to assess the trend in the body load of organochlorine pesticide residues in Great Britain, between July 1965 and June 1967 samples of fat were taken during routine necropsies on 247 subjects over 3 years old and on 44 stillborn or premature babies and infants below the age of 3. The levels of the three main pesticides, B.H.C., dieldrin, and D.D.T., were lower than those found in an earlier survey carried out in 1963 and 1964. No marked differences were observed in levels throughout Britain, but the levels in man were higher than those in women. Britain compares favourably with other countries in which similar surveys have been done.

Dietary intake of pesticide chemicals. Calculated daily consumption of pesticides with foods are discussed and compared with currently accepted values

Residues of chlorinated organic pesticide chemicals were commonly found in all diet samples and all food classes within samples except beverages at a daily intake of 0.0014 mg per kilogram of body weight. Meat, fish, and poultry were the major source of pesticide residues and, when combined with dairy products, account for more than half of the intake of chlorinated organic pesticide chemicals. Fruits, garden fruits, and grain foods each accounted for about 10 percent of the intake of chlorinated pesticides. The DDT, its two analogs, dieldrin, lindane, and heptachlor epoxide account for 85 percent of the total intake of chlorinated pesticides. A single pesticide, DDT, accounts for one-third of the total. There was no statistically significant change in frequency or quantities of these compounds during this study. Frequency and quantities of the 14 additional chlorinated pesticides were too low to be meaningful.