Internal exposure to organic substances in a municipal waste incinerator.
Fifty-three persons occupied in a municipal waste incinerator were examined with respect to their internal exposure to organic substances which may be produced during pyrolysis of organic matter. For this purpose the levels of benzene in blood, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in plasma, and mono- (MCPs), di- (DCPs), tri- (TCPs), tetra- (TCEPs) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) and hydroxypyrene in urine were determined. For control purposes, 431 men and women were examined. Significantly higher values for the workers were found for the excretion of hydroxypyrene [median (m): 0.24 vs 0.11 microgram/l; non-smokers], 2,4/2,5-DCP (m: 10.5 vs 3.9 micrograms/l) and 2,4,5-TCP (m: 1.2 vs 0.8 micrograms/l) and for the HCB level in plasma (m: 4.4 vs 2.8 micrograms/l). For the concentrations of 4-MCP and 2,3,4,6/2,3,5,6-TECP, the controls had significantly higher concentrations in urine than did the workers in the incineration plant (m: 4-MCP 1.7 vs 1.2; 2,3,4,6/2,3,5,6-TECP: 1.2 vs 0.3 micrograms/l). No significant differences between workers and controls were detected with respect to benzene in blood (m: 0.20 vs 0.28 microgram/l; non-smokers), 2,4,6-TCP and PCPs in urine (m: 0.85 vs 0.60 and 2.2 vs 2.2 micrograms/l) or the levels of PCB congeners in plasma (m: sigma 138, 153, 180: 5.6 vs 4.1 micrograms/l). The elevated levels of hydroxypyrene, 2,4/2,5-DCP, 2,4,5-TCP and HCB in biological material may be related to the incineration of the waste. These elevations, however, are very small and are of interest more from the environmental than from the occupational point of view.
Angerer
J
J
Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin der Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Heinzow
B
B
Reimann
D O
DO
Knorz
W
W
Lehnert
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012307:Risk Factors; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D002733:Chlorophenols; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D011721:Pyrenes; D012997:Solvents; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D001554:Benzene