Occupational exposuretopolychlorinated biphenyls inelectrical workers. IEnvironmental andblood polychlorinated biphenyls concentrations

Industrial exposuretopolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) andinternal dose were investi- gated in80workers exposed formany yearstoPCBmixtures with a42%chlorine content(Pyralene 3010andApirolio). PCBswere determined byliquid gas chromatography on samples takenfrom workroomair, workroomsurfaces andtools, thepalmsofthehand,andthebloodoftheworkers. Intheworkroom airsamples, PCBconcentrations ranged from48to275ttg/m3. Alltested surfaces andtools were heavily contaminated, witha range from0-2to159,ugPCBsper cm2ofsurface. Considerable amountsofPCBsweredetected on thepalmsofthehandsoftheworkers (2-28 ,ug/cm2 ofskinsurface). Inblood, total PCB concentrations from88to1319,ug/kg were observed: com- paring thebloodconcentrations oflowandhighchlorine contentbiphenyls, a significant difference was foundforthelow-chlorinated biphenyl concentrations between workers currently exposed and workers exposed onlyinthepast. Ingroupsofworkers whowerehomogeneous asregards workarea andjob,thePCB concentrations inthebloodwere closely correlated withthelength ofactual occupational exposuretothese compounds. Thesefindings ledtotheconclusion thatabsorption ofPCBsintheseworkers hadoccurred mainly through theskin, andtherefore industrial preventive surveillance musttakethis routeof exposureinto account. Since bloodPCB concentrations appeartobecorrelated withthelength of exposure,PCBdetermination on wholeblood may beusedtomonitor industrial andenvironmental exposuretoPCBs.