Residues of organochlorine pesticides in human fat in Belgium.

In 1975, 60 samples of human body fat taken during the course of routine examinations by pathologists were analysed for organochlorine pesticide residues. The mean detected concentrations are 1.36 ppm for HCB, 0.76 ppm for betaHCH, 0.38 ppm for heptachlor epoxide, 0.26 ppm for dieldrin, 6.50 ppm for ppDDE, 0.27 ppm for ppDDD and 1.52 ppm for ppDDT. By comparing these results with earlier studies in 1969 and 1966 a decrease in the total HCH and ppDDT content and an increase in the dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide content is observed. HCB was not determined in earlier studies.