Organochlorine pesticide residues in basic food products and diets in the Republic of Belarus

Samples of meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, vegetables, and rye and wheat bread from different area of Belarus were analyzed for the presence of organochlorine pesticide residues. Results showed that DDE was found most often at trace or small quantities. Small quantities of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers were also detected. Overall, the organochlorine pesticide residue concentrations in the basic foodstuffs were blow FAO/WHO standards. In fish, quantifiable concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers were detected, as well as DDT and its metabolites. When 14 hospital diets of pregnant and nursing mothers were analyzed, the daily intake of total DDT ranged 2 5 mu g, while the intake of organochlorines/kg human body mass ranged 0.03 0.05 mu g/kg.