The total absorption coefficients for some selected organic compounds relevant to health physics, Triaflol BN (C3H4O2)(n), Triaflol TN (C12H18O7)(n), Kapton (C44H20O10)(n), and Melinex (C10H8N4O4)(n) were measured in the X-ray energy range from 13 keV up to about 40 keV using a collimator, high purity germanium detector with thin Be window and variable energy X-ray source. The measured values are compared with the theoretical ones obtained using the XCOM code. The agreement is generally good within a few percent. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.