OBJECTIVETo study the contents of organochlorine pesticides in human bodies and residues in serum of populations with non-occupational exposure as well as to study the relationship between organochlorine pesticides in foodstuff and residues levels in serum.

METHODSA cross-section study was conducted. 107 men and 142 women who were all healthy and living in the communities were investigated from Mar. 2004 to Jul. 2004. Level of daily food exposure was estimated through questionnaires while DDTs and HCHs serum levels were detected by EC-ECD. The relationship between organochlorine pesticides contents in foods and residues in serum were analyzed by ridge regression.

RESULTSFresh fish was positively correlated to men's serum level of beta-HCH and p,p'-DDT (beta = 0.1266 and beta = 0.0595) while vegetables and fruits were negatively correlated to women's serum level of beta-HCH (beta = -0.1066). Soybean was negatively correlated to women's serum level of p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT (beta = -0.0965 and 3 = -0.0581). Alcohol consumption was negatively correlated to men's serum level of beta-HCH and p,p'-DDE and women's serum level of p,p'-DDE (beta = -0.1315, beta = -0.1599 and P = -0.1128).Salted meat was negatively correlated to men's serum level of beta-HCH and p, p'-DDT (P = -0. 066 and P = - 0.0569).

CONCLUSIONIn this study, fresh fish might increase the body burden of organochlorine pesticides and residues while alcohol might promote the excretion of organochlorine pesticides. Pickled meat and vegetal foodstuff might contain low-level of organochlorine pesticides and residues.