Total gamma ray cross sections in oxygen, fluorine and chlorine are obtained at the photon energies of 59.54 keV, 122.06 keV and 136.47 keV by measuring the cross sections in boron trioxide, lithium fluoride and sodium chloride using an HPGe detecting system. These cross sections are found to be in satisfactory agreement with the values of Storm and Israel, Veigele and Scofield combined with Hubbell et al. within 2% uncertainty. Thus the use of compounds for cross section measurements is found to be suitable to obtain cross sections in elements in gaseous form where direct measurements involve the use of a more elaborate experimental set-up.