In the present study, the current levels of pesticide residues were studied in the human populace of Punjab state. A total of 111 human blood samples were analyzed by gas chromatography and pesticide residues were detected in 35 % of the blood sample(s). Residues of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p' DDD), p,p' dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p' DDE), p,p' dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p' DDT), β-endosulfan, monocrotophos, profenophos and phosalone were found in human blood samples with mean levels of 1.11, 5.89, 0.51, 3.88, 0.39, 34.90, 0.79, 0.39 and 6.76 ng ml(-1), respectively, with β-endosulfan as a leading pesticide residue. A paradigm shift in the pattern of the pesticide usage was observed with a shift from organochlorine pesticides to organophosphates.