Andrea 't Mannetje1, Amanda Eng2, Chris Walls3, Evan Dryson4, Dave McLean5, Manolis Kogevinas6, Jeff Fowles7, Barry Borman8, Patrick O'Connor9, Soo Cheng10, Collin Brooks11, Allan H Smith12, Neil Pearce13. 1. Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. a.mannetje@massey.ac.nz. 2. Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. a.j.eng@massey.ac.nz. 3. Occupational Medicine Specialists, Auckland, New Zealand. cwalls@omspecialists.co.nz. 4. Occupational Medicine Specialists, Auckland, New Zealand. edryson@omspecialists.co.nz. 5. Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. d.j.mclean@massey.ac.nz. 6. Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain. kogevinas@creal.cat. 7. California Department of Public Health, Richmond, USA. tox-logic@hotmail.com. 8. Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. b.borman@massey.ac.nz. 9. MidCentral District Health Board, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Patrick.oconnor@midcentral.co.nz. 10. Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. s.k.cheng@massey.ac.nz. 11. Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. c.r.brooks@massey.ac.nz. 12. University of California, Berkeley, USA. ahsmith@berkeley.edu. 13. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Neil.Pearce@LSHTM.ac.uk.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To quantify serum concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and dioxin-like compounds in former phenoxy herbicide production plant workers and firefighters, 20 years after 2,4,5-T production ceased. METHODS: Of 1025 workers employed any time during 1969-1984, 430 were randomly selected and invited to take part in a morbidity survey and provide a blood sample; 244 (57%) participated. Firefighters stationed in close proximity of the plant and/or engaged in call-outs to the plant between 1962 and 1987 also participated (39 of 70 invited). Reported here are the serum concentrations of TCDD and other chlorinated dibenzo-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Determinants of the serum concentrations were assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: The 60 men who had worked in the phenoxy/TCP production area had a mean TCDD serum concentration of 19.1 pg/g lipid, three times the mean concentration of the 141 men and 43 women employed in other parts of the plant (6.3 and 6.0 pg/g respectively), and more than 10 times the mean for the firefighters (1.6 pg/g). Duration of employment in phenoxy herbicide synthesis, maintenance work, and work as a boilerman, chemist, and packer were associated with increased serum concentrations of TCDD and 1,2,3,4,7-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD). Employment as a boilerman was also associated with elevated serum concentrations of PCBs. CONCLUSIONS: Occupations in the plant associated with phenoxy herbicide synthesis had elevated levels of TCDD and PeCDD. Most other people working within the plant, and the local firefighters, had serum concentrations of dioxin-like compounds comparable to those of the general population.
PURPOSE: To quantify serum concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and dioxin-like compounds in former phenoxy herbicide production plant workers and firefighters, 20 years after 2,4,5-T production ceased. METHODS: Of 1025 workers employed any time during 1969-1984, 430 were randomly selected and invited to take part in a morbidity survey and provide a blood sample; 244 (57%) participated. Firefighters stationed in close proximity of the plant and/or engaged in call-outs to the plant between 1962 and 1987 also participated (39 of 70 invited). Reported here are the serum concentrations of TCDD and other chlorinated dibenzo-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Determinants of the serum concentrations were assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: The 60 men who had worked in the phenoxy/TCP production area had a mean TCDD serum concentration of 19.1 pg/g lipid, three times the mean concentration of the 141 men and 43 women employed in other parts of the plant (6.3 and 6.0 pg/g respectively), and more than 10 times the mean for the firefighters (1.6 pg/g). Duration of employment in phenoxy herbicide synthesis, maintenance work, and work as a boilerman, chemist, and packer were associated with increased serum concentrations of TCDD and 1,2,3,4,7-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD). Employment as a boilerman was also associated with elevated serum concentrations of PCBs. CONCLUSIONS: Occupations in the plant associated with phenoxy herbicide synthesis had elevated levels of TCDD and PeCDD. Most other people working within the plant, and the local firefighters, had serum concentrations of dioxin-like compounds comparable to those of the general population.
Authors: M Kogevinas; H Becher; T Benn; P A Bertazzi; P Boffetta; H B Bueno-de-Mesquita; D Coggon; D Colin; D Flesch-Janys; M Fingerhut; L Green; T Kauppinen; M Littorin; E Lynge; J D Mathews; M Neuberger; N Pearce; R Saracci Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 1997-06-15 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Lesa L Aylward; Robert C Brunet; Gaétan Carrier; Sean M Hays; Colleen A Cushing; Larry L Needham; Donald G Patterson; Pier Mario Gerthoux; Paolo Brambilla; Paolo Mocarelli Journal: J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol Date: 2005-01
Authors: James J Collins; Kenneth M Bodner; Michael Wilken; Salma Haidar; Carol J Burns; Robert A Budinsky; Greg D Martin; Michael L Carson; J Craig Rowlands Journal: J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol Date: 2007-04-11 Impact factor: 5.563
Authors: James J Collins; Michael Wilken; David McBride; Noel F Humphry; Peter Herbison; Carol J Burns; Kenneth Bodner Journal: Chemosphere Date: 2009-06-25 Impact factor: 7.086
Authors: M T Landi; D Consonni; D G Patterson; L L Needham; G Lucier; P Brambilla; M A Cazzaniga; P Mocarelli; A C Pesatori; P A Bertazzi; N E Caporaso Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 1998-05 Impact factor: 9.031