title: Occupational exposure to PCDDs, PCDFs, and DL-PCBs in metallurgical plants of the Brescia (Lombardy Region, northern Italy) area.
abstract: The concentration values of polychlorodibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (DL-PCBs) in blood serum samples (pools) of metallurgical workers in the area of the city of Brescia (northern Italy) were statistically processed. As to workers' exposure characteristics, pools were divided into 34 professionally exposed (PE) and 11 non-professionally exposed (NPE). A further subdivision of PE pools was according to workplaces in which ferrous (N = 24) and non-ferrous (N = 10) materials were handled. To evaluate the aforesaid differences we applied the age-adjusted Generalized Linear Models. We identified significant (P ≤ 0.05) exposure models of the classification groups. The first subdivision was confirmed by the concentrations of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H7CDF, DL-PCB 105, and DL-PCB 189; the second was confirmed by the concentrations of PCDF TEQ97, PCDD + PCDF + DL-PCB (TEQTOT) TEQ97, 2,3,4,7,8-P5CDF, 1,2,3,6,7,8-H6CDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H7CDD, and PCB 189. Based on the literature, all mentioned congeners have been found in stack gas and fly ash samples of metallurgical plants: therefore, these indicators indicate the exposure to such work environments. Specifically, the concentrations measured in the workers' blood serum appear to depend on the type of material processed during work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miniero
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ingelido
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abballe
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Domenico
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.affiliation: Agenzia per la Tutela della Salute di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.affiliation: Agenzia per la Tutela della Salute di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garattini
authors.affiliation: Agenzia per la Tutela della Salute di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Speziani
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Felip
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000097:blood*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000097:blood*; D060729:Coal Ash; D004147:Dioxins / Q000737:chemistry; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000097:blood*; D011108:Polymers
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001572:Benzofurans; D060729:Coal Ash; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011108:Polymers; C016068:polychlorodibenzofuran; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Brescia; DL-PCBs; Metallurgical workers; PCDDs; PCDFs