title: Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in the blood plasma of a selected sample of non-occupationally exposed southern California working adults.
abstract: Blood samples from 738 employees of the Southern California Edison Company were analyzed for PCBs prior to their starting work, as part of a pre-employment medical examination. Blood PCB concentrations of the pre-employment sample had a median of 4 ppb and a mean of 5 +/- 4 ppb. These data are comparable to previously published values for blood PCB concentrations in people without occupational exposure. Plasma PCB concentrations are also sorted by demographic characteristics of the sample (age/race/sex/education). Since the demographic properties of the newly hired employees are reasonably similar to those of the Los Angeles-Long Beach work force, as determined in the 1980 census, we conclude that the low PCB concentrations present in the blood of a sample of new electric utility employees is representative of the regional work force and arise from exposures to PCBs present in the general environment.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D044469:Racial Groups
chemical_list: D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls