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The exposure of municipal waste incinerator workers to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) was studied. Blood samples obtained from municipal waste incinerator workers at two facilities and nonincinerator worker referents were analyzed for PCDD and PCDF congeners. In addition, PCDDs and PCDFs were determined in slag and fly ash from one of the incinerators. Significant increases in the mean concentrations of octachlorinated dibenzodioxins (octaCDDs), hexachlorinated dibenzofurans (hexaCDFs), heptachlorinated dibenzofurans (hepaCDFs), total PCDDs, and total PCDFs were seen in the blood of workers from the older of the two incinerator facilities compared with referent values. Heptachlorinated dibenzodioxins, octaCDD, hexaCDF, hepaCDF, and octachlorinated dibenzofurans were identified in slag and fly ash from the older incinerator. The authors conclude that occupational exposure to slag and fly ash may result in increased blood levels of PCDDs and PCDFs.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 52(6):385-387, 1995. (7 references)
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