Efficient strategy of research on dioxin exposure evaluation in incinerator workers

为了建立有效的焚烧工人二恶英暴露评价研究策略，对13个焚烧厂的工人进行了血清和粉尘二恶英浓度测定。研究结果如下。1)扬尘样品中二恶英浓度为0.54 ~ 33 ng TEQ/g，约为一般土壤的1000倍。2)在13个焚烧厂中，有10个焚烧厂工人血清HpCDF浓度显著高于对照组。这一增加被认为是由职业性二恶英摄入引起的。3)本研究发现12个焚烧厂除1个进行了大规模设备改造的焚烧厂外，粉尘二恶英浓度计算的暴露指数与血清HpCDF浓度呈正相关。因此，通过计算暴露指数，可以将焚烧厂分类为需要进行医疗检查并测量血液二恶英浓度或不需要。

In order to establish an efficient strategy of research on dioxin exposure evaluation in incinerator workers, dioxin concentrations in serum and deposited dust were measured in thirteen incineration plants. The findings are as follows.1) Dioxin concentrations in the deposited dust samples were 0.54 to 33 ng TEQ/g, which were about 1,000 times general soil.2) In ten of the 13 incineration plants, serum HpCDF concentration was significantly higher for incinerator workers than for controls. The increase was considered to be caused by occupational dioxin intake.3) This study found positive correlation between exposure index calculated from dust dioxin concentration and serum HpCDF concentration in the 12 incineration plants except for one plant where large-scale improvement of the equipment was conducted. Consequently, by calculating the exposure index, it is possible to classify incineration plant as to need medical examination with measurement of blood dioxin concentration or not.