Table 5. PCB levels in occupationally exposed populations. PCB Level

Transcription

1 Takamatsu M, Oki M, et al. Surveys of workers occupationally exposed to PCBs and of Yusho patients. Environ Health Perspect, 1985; 59: ppb ppb Group A: 63 silk thread production workers ± N=14 (reported results) Group B: 42 silk and wool thread producers Group C: 7 marine paint manufacturer workers ± 62.2 N= 7 Group D: 23 Yusho patients ± 4.1 N=5 (reported results) Group E: 8 patients suffering from PCB poisoning ± 15.0 N=3, 1 year after termination of exposure ± 18.7 N=5, years after termination of exposure Group F: Control Group G: Control ± 1.1 N=40 Groups A-D showed sig higher levels of PCBs than group F (p<.01). Twelve of 63 subjects in group A and 7 subjects in group C showed levels higher than 50 ppb. No cancer findings. Clinical findings in exposed people included acne and pigmentation. Some exposed persons had elevated rates of triglycerides. Group comparisons using log transformed data and F-test Emmett E. Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and effects in transformer repair workers. Environ Health 55 present and past transformer repair Serum PCBs (Mean, Adipose PCBs and 2-tailed test show stat sig diff among current exposed, (Mean, Range) past exposed, and comparison groups and total exposed Perspect, 1985; 60: workers Range) ppb ppb and comparison groups, at.01. Currently exposed 12.2, ,.2-33 Serum N= 37, Adipose N=36 Previously exposed 5.9, ,.3-51 N= 17, N=16 Total exposed 9.7, ,.2-33 N=54, N=52 Comparison 4.6, ,.2-3 N=54, N=53

2 Wolff M. Occupational exposure to PCBs. Environ Health Perspect, 1985; 60: Exposure Air levels (µg/m 3 ) Kelly K, et al. Assessment of health effects in NYC firefighters after exposure to PCBs and PCDFs: the Staten Island Transformer fire surveillance project. Arch Environ Health, 2002; 57: Skin wipe (µg/cm 2 ) manufacture Electrical equipment manufacture Transformer inspection manufacture, off worksite < Threshold limit for PCBs (American Conference on Government Industrial Hygienists) has been.5 micrograms/m for PCBs with 54% chlorine and 1 microgram/m for PCBs with 42% chlorine. At low levels of exposure, when PCB discontinued for 2.5 years, Aroclor 1016 was found on skin of workers using passive collection methods after some time away from workplace. Found 5 microgram/cm over hands and face or entire body Blood (ng/ml) Adipose (µg/g) Duration of employment (mean years) Electrical worker ± 6 manufacturing ± Exposed persons Nominally exposed Nonexposed Serum PCB levels (ppb) 58 out of 60 FF exposed to PCBs and PCDFs after transformer fire 2.92 ± 1.96 Avg serum PCB levels for general US pop 1-2 ppb. 20 FF >1.8 5 FF >6

3 Maroni M, et al. Occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in electrical workers. I Environmental and blood polychlorinated biphenyls concentrations. Brit J Ind Med, 1981; 38: (µg/m 3 ) (µg/m 3 ) Air concentrations- high power capacitors 80 workers with chronic exposure to PCB mixtures Low-power capacitors Filters Blood PCB concentrations- Currently exposed (µg/kg) (µg/kg) Plant A- n=48, Pyralene 3010 exposure ± 85 Low chlorine content ± 190 High Chlorine content ± 258 Total chlorine content Plant B- n=12, Apirolio exposure ± 123 Low chlorine content ± 50 High Chlorine content ± 146 Total chlorine content Past exposure Plant A- n= ± 50 Low chlorine content ± 123 High Chlorine content ± 161 Total chlorine content Plant B- n=1 74 Low chlorine content 30 High Chlorine content 104 Total chlorine content Workers with occasional exposure Plant A, n= ± 23 Low chlorine content ± 13 High Chlorine content ± 31 Total chlorine content

4 Wolff M, et al. Body burden of PCBs among persons employed in capacitor manufacturing. Int Arc Occup Environ Health, 1982; 49: Sinks T, et al. Mortality among workers exposed to PCBs. AJE, 1992; 136: Bertazzi PA, et al. Cancer mortality of capacitor manufacturing workers. Am J Ind Med, 1987; 11: Workers in capacitor manufacturing. 290 plasma and 61 adipose samples. ppb ppb Aroclor 1254 Males Plasma Adipose Females Plasma Adipose Aroclor 1248 Males Plasma High exposure Other exposure Adipose High exposure Other exposure Females Plasma High exposure Other exposure Adipose High exposure Other exposure 3588 electrical capacitor manufacturing workers. (µg/m 3 ) (µg/m 3 ) Zone: manufacturing workers (µg/m 3 ) (µg/m 3 ) Workplace surfaces 18 samples Year: samples Year: 1982 Workers' hands 9 samples Year: samples Year: 1982 Zone 5- area with most exposure, zone 2 area with least exposure

5 Schecter A, et al. Polychlorinated biphenyl levels in the tissues of exposed and nonexposed humans. Environ Health Perspect, 1994; Suppl 1; Malkin R, et al. Occupational and environmental lead and PCB exposure at a scrap metal dealer. Environ Research, 1995; 70: Guam transformer workers ppb ppb Samples are 2 years after incident. Avg total PCB 4.02 ppb 3.61 ppb Worker # employees of 2 scrap metal dealers ppb ppb Company A 3.9 Company B 5.1 PCB levels based on where lunch eaten Lunchroom 1.5 Means are stat Range: Not in lunchroom 5.8 p<.05 Range: Range <1-65.3: outlier PCB level of 65.3 excluded from mean calculations.

6 Kontsas H, et al. Worker exposure to polycholorinated Workers exposed to PCBs during biphenyls in elastic polysulphide sealant renovation. Ann renovation of pre-fab Occup Hyg, 2004; 48: houses (µg/l) (µg/l) Korhonen K, et al. Occupational exposure to chemical agents in the paper industry. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 2000; 77: Kim BH, et al. Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, pcdd, pcdf, and pcbs in human blood samples from korea. Sci Total Environ, 2005; 336: Mean total PCB conc 3.9 Range = (µg/l) Nonexposed workers conc 1.7 Range= Workers in paper and pulp industry (µg/m 3 ) Area of work Pulping, refining -9 samples 0.6 Range= Paperboard machine- 6 samples 0.33 Range= 0-1 Other specified department- 108 samples 254 Range= 0-16,000 Unspecified department- 23 samples 5.91 Range= 0-17 Laborers working in 2 diff municipal waste incinerator plants (ng/g) (ng/g) Total PCBs Range=

7 Citation Agramunt MC, et al. Monitoring internal exposure to metals and organic substances in workers at a hazardous waste incinerator after 3 years of operation. Tox letters, 2003; 146: workers divided into 3 groups: plant, laboratory, administration Plant by PCB congener PCB 138 by year PCB 153 PCB 180 Laboratory by PCB congener PCB 138 by year PCB 153 PCB 180 Administration by PCB congener PCB 138 by year PCB 153 PCB 180 Population Range Mean ± SD Plasma levels (µg/kg)