Levels of metals and organic substances in workers at a hazardous waste incinerator: a follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the blood and urine concentrations of a number of metals and organic substances in workers at a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) in Catalonia, Spain, 8 years after regular operations in the facility. To compare these concentrations with the baseline (1999) levels and with those obtained in previous (2000 and 2005) surveys.


METHODS
The employees were divided into three groups according to their specific workplaces. Plasma analyses of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), as well as urinary analyses of 2,4- and 2,5-dichlorophenol (DCP), 2,4,5- and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP) were carried out. Blood concentrations of manganese and mercury, and urinary levels of nickel were also determined.


RESULTS
For organic compounds in plasma, the comparison of the current levels with those of previous surveys did not show any significant increase for any of the compounds analyzed. In contrast, plasma levels of PCBs 28, 52 and 101 were significantly lower than the respective baseline concentrations, while especially notable was the significant reduction in the levels of PCDD/Fs in plasma of plant workers, which decreased from 26.7 pg I-TEQ/g lipid in the baseline survey to the current 2.5 pg I-TEQ/g lipid.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the results of the present study, there are no evident signs of occupational exposure to a number of metals and organic substances in the workers of the HWI.
Mari
Montse
M
Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Sescelades Campus, Tarragona, Spain.
Schuhmacher
Marta
M
Domingo
José L
JL
D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000097:blood; D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D006573:Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring / Q000097:blood*; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000097:blood; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010416:Pentachlorophenol / Q000652:urine; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain
D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D001572:Benzofurans; D002733:Chlorophenols; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006573:Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011721:Pyrenes; C009534:2,4,5-trichlorophenol; C056892:2,5-dichlorophenol; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; C023614:dibenzofuran; D010416:Pentachlorophenol; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C024564:2,4,6-trichlorophenol; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene; C004762:2,4-dichlorophenol