Organochlorine compounds have been analyzed in human samples from residents of Genoa, a city in Northern Italy. Twenty-eight specimens of adipose tissue from 17 males and 11 females deceased from accidental causes in March and April 1989 were examined. In 12 of the 17 males, liver tissue specimens were also analyzed. DDE was the major organochlorine pesticide (OCP) found in all human adipose tissues (395 +/- 264 ng/g); additional OCPs found in our series of human subjects with an occurrence greater than 80% included p,p-DDT (64 +/- 31 ng/g), lindane (104 +/- 93 ng/g), and beta-BHC (213 +/- 260 ng/g). Statistical analysis showed positive correlation of DDE and p,p-DDT with age with an annual increase of 7 ng/yr and 0.9 ng/yr, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found for OCPs concentration between sexes. In DDE to sigma DDT (o,p-DDT + p,p-DDT + o,p-TDE + p,p-TDE) ratio changed in the last two decades from 0.95 (1966) to 5.2. Significant correlation was found between paired liver-adipose tissues concentrations of DDE and p,p-DDT (1:2 ratio). No correlation was found between age of subjects and the DDE to sigma DDT ratio. This study indicates that the ban on DDT use as a pesticide has been largely effective in Liguria, as supported by the lower concentrations of the compound in youngsters and the increase in the DDE to sigma DDT ratio with time. However, other data, such as the lack of correlation between age of subject and the DDE to sigma DDT ratio, indicate that intake of minimal amounts of DDT may have taken place even recently. This intake could depend on contamination of food imported from abroad or on illegal, or incorrect, use of these compounds in Italy.