Levels of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and hexachlorocyclohexane in human adipose tissue of the Indian population.

Concentrations of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were determined in 313 human omental fat samples collected from subjects from all five zones of India during 1977-1980. The median concentration of 2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), total DDT, beta HCH, and total HCH were 3.4, 6.0, 1.3, and 1.9 mg/kg, respectively. The calculated national mean levels for DDT and HCH were 11.1 and 3.5 mg/kg, respectively. Although the values of DDT and HCH were not as high as those reported earlier, there is still a need for close monitoring of the bioaccumulation of these chemical residues in the Indian population.