Psychological effects upon exposure to polyhalogenated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans.
Thirty workers who had been exposed to combustion products for several years due to testing of flame retarding qualities of building materials and 30 controls from the same facility were investigated. Concentrations found in samples taken from different places of the facility were up to 14,660 microg/kg for polybrominated dibenzofurans and up to 67.1 microg/kg for polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Physical examination, routine laboratory parameters, and blood fat concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs revealed normal findings. Neurotoxic symptoms showed a weak tendency of overrepresentation among the exposed workers. The frequency of neurobehavioural symptoms increased significantly with trait anxiety independent of exposure to combustion products.
Golka
K
K
Institute of Occupational Physiology at the University of Dortmund, Germany. golka@arb-phys.uni-dortmund.de
Kiesswetter
E
E
Kieper
H
H
Blaszkewicz
M
M
Hallier
E
E
Thier
R
R
Sietmann
B
B
Bolt
H M
HM
Seeber
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants; D006219:Halogens; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D005411:Flame Retardants; D006219:Halogens; D007220:Industrial Waste; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins