A study of a sample of 251 children aged between 1 and 10 was carried out in 6 districts of Cubatão county, S. Paulo State, Brazil. This study showed the presence of organochlorine pesticides in the blood serum of 242 children, p-p' DDE was detected in 73 of the samples (30%) and HCH in 47 them (19%). The mean value of p-p' DDE was 0.85 ± 2.13 µg/l. and that of HCH was 0.28 ± 0.79 µg/l. Lead and mercury were also detected in the blood serum. The mean value for lead was 17.8 ± 5.8 µg/l. and for mercury was 9.1 ± 0.79 µg/l. The levels found in consumers of aquatic organisms taken from the rivers of Cubatão showed a mean mercury level (mean = 14.7 ± 7.1 µg/l.) higher than (p < 0.04) that of those who did not consume any aquatic organisms at all (mean = 10.0 ± 6.5 µg/l.).
Organochlorine; Lead; Mercury; Fishes
