Occupational exposure to PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs of metallurgical workers in some industrial plants of the Brescia area, northern Italy

BackgroundThe study was carried out in order to respond to public concern on the occupational exposure of metallurgical workers to highly toxic PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs in the area of the city of Brescia, northern Italy.ObjectivesThe study investigated the effects on the haematic burden of occupational exposures to the aforesaid contaminants in different work environments, attempting to establish causal relationships and providing indications for occupational health preventive measures.MethodsChemical concentrations were measured in blood serum of “professionally exposed” (PE) and “not professionally exposed” (NPE) subjects. NPE subjects included industrial administrative employees, Brescia inhabitants, and remote rural people.ResultsThe central tendency indexes of contaminant cumulative concentrations were higher in PE than in NPE samples (for the mean values: PCDDs + PCDFs, 22.9 vs. 19.5 pgWHO-TEQ1997/g lb; DL-PCBs, 26.0 vs. 23.6 pgWHO-TEQ1997/g lb; PCDDs + PCDFs + DL-PCBs (TEQTOT), 48.9 vs. 43.1 pgWHO-TEQ1997/g lb; Σ6[NDL-PCBs], 427 vs. 401 ng g−1 lb); however, no statistical differences were detected at P = 0.05. A significant difference for PCDDs + PCDFs and TEQTOT was observed as the NPE data were progressively reduced to those of the remote rural people. The existence of a differential occupational exposure due to different environments was detected by applying the factor analysis to congener-specific data (analytical profiles).ConclusionsFindings indicate that metallurgical workers may be exposed to PCDD, PCDF, and PCB more than the general population, in particular due to non-negligible contributions to exposure from workplace ambient air. Findings also suggest that an improvement of preventive measures may be required to avoid chemical overexposure in certain metallurgical workplaces. To identify exposure groups, the DL- and NDL-PCB analytical profiles seemed to be more sensitive to environmental exposure sources/pathways than those of PCDDs and PCDFs.

► Dioxin/PCB haematic burdens of Brescia, Italy, metallurgical workers were investigated.
► Chemicals were measured in “professionally” (PE) and “not professionally” (NPE) exposed subjects.
► A significant difference was observed between PE data and a subgroup of NPE data (rural subjects).
► Increased haematic burdens of PE subjects were associated with certain workplace environments.