A variety of low molecular weight aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons have a history of use in the processing of foods, and their presence in potable water supplies has also been demonstrated. In this study, the relative uptake of four different aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons (methylene chloride, dichloroethane, chloroform and trichloroethylene) was studied after administration, by intragastric intubation, at the same dose level as corn-oil or aqueous solutions. Serial blood samples were collected over a 5-h period and uptake was assessed as the calculated area under blood concentration-time curves. A significant decrease in the rate and extent of uptake was observed for the compounds when administered as an oil solution as compared with an aqueous solution. Lower peak concentrations and an increase in the time taken to reach peak concentration, after dosing with corn oil solutions, was also observed.