The effects of eleven pesticides on human cellular uptake were investigated. Human embryonic lung diploid cells were grown in a culture and injected with 0.02 micromoles of radioactive chemicals. The culture bottles were sampled at 4, 24, and 48 hours and radioactivity was measured. The growth of the culture was measured by determination of total cell protein after a 48 hour exposure to the chemicals. Growth was expressed as a percentage, compared to a control culture. The chemicals tested were DDT (50293), aldrin (309002), carbaryl (63252), dieldrin (60571), malathion (121755), parathion (56382), chlordimeform (6164983), 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-1-acetic-acid (94757) (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy-1-acetic-acid (93765) (2,4,5-T), hexachlorobenzene (118741) (HCB) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Cell growths for each chemical were 94, 99, 97, 107, 97, 87, 96, 79, 83 and 111 percent, respectively. The incorporation rates of DDT, dieldrin, and aldrin (which are classified as persistent pesticides), were greatest among the chemicals tested. HCB, another persistent chemical, was also accumulated significantly. Malathion, parathion, chlordimeform, 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D (classified as nonpersistent compounds), were taken up to a smaller extent. The authors conclude that persistent chemicals are taken up to a greater extent than nonpersistent substances by cultured human cells. They also suggest that this method may be useful for evaluating environmental pollutants.