title: Surveillance program for former PCB-exposed workers of a transformer and capacitor recycling company, family members, employees of surrounding companies, and area residents--executive summary.
abstract: In a German company polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-containing transformers and capacitors were recycled on a large scale. Human biomonitoring revealed a high PCB body burden in workers of the recycling company, in surrounding locations of this plant, in companies in the neighborhood of this plant, and in family members of these employees. In order to clarify whether possible adverse health effects occurred or may occur in the future, a prospective surveillance program was initiated. After an extensive literature search, an interdisciplinary group of experts developed a surveillance program based on current knowledge with respect to possible adverse health effects that might occur in the recycling process of transformers and capacitors. Exposure to various hazardous substances (PCB, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans [PCDD/F], metals, solvents) was considered. Criteria derived from human biomonitoring results of PCB were used for admission to the program. Participants in the surveillance program are first informed about risks and aims of the program. Subsequently, physicians started a detailed documentation of participants' general and occupational history, with their complaints, diseases, and nutritional habits, as well as information regarding their living areas, by means of a standardized questionnaire. In addition, separate examinations were performed to detect possible neurological, immunological, (neuro)psychological, hormonal, and skin effects. Moreover, DNA exposure as assessed by the comet assay and antioxidative status were determined. The program will be offered at yearly intervals for 3 years, and then at 5 and 10 years after program onset. Until now the program has proved to be feasible, and acceptance among workers and their families has been high. Based on the results, criteria will be developed to define adverse health effects that might be attributable to a hazardous substance exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. tkraus@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gube
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esser
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fimm
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Willmes
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neulen
authors.forename: Jens Malte
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Merk
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schettgen
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konrad
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deisz
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rink
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagmann
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fillies
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zschiesche
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wittsiepe
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D059027:Recycling; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005663:Furans; D008670:Metals; D012997:Solvents; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls