Pesticide residues were detected in total diet samples randomly collected from Cairo. More than 23 pesticide residues and their degradation products were detected by GLC. Endrin, dieldrin, lin-dane and total DDT were the main residues detected in most samples. The amount of pesticide residues consumed by the average person in the average diet was calculated. Results indicated that the feeding habits and behavior of the Egyptian people play an important role in their daily intake of pesticide residues. high quantities of drinking water and bread are consumed daily and these would be the main sources of intake. In fact bread was the source of more than 50% of the pesticide daily in-take.
The daily intake of endrin, dieldrin, lindane and total DDT from bread was 0.0960, 0.0624, 0.5280 and 0.5760 mg/person.
The total daily intake of pesticide residues was 0.1671, 0.0955, 0.7018 and 0.9578 mg endrin, dieldrin, linden° and total DDT/person respectively, while the acceptable daily intake for the fore-mentioned insecticides is 0.014, 0.007, 0.7 and 1.4 mg/person.