Accidental human exposure to polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polychlorinated dioxins following a transformer fire

Abstract On January 1985, a transformer fire occurred in the basement of an appartment building in Reims (France), due to electrical overload in a period of heavy cold. The transformer fluid contained PCBs and the soots resulting from the combustion process were analyzed. They contained PCDFs and PCDDs, including TCDDs. An estimated number of 342 people were considered as potentially exposed. A semi-quantitative exposure level was assigned to everyone. At present time, no significative difference exists with matched controls. Each person was then submitted to a medical examination, and biological analysis. A periodic medical follow-up will be set up in the heavily exposed group.