Monitoring internal exposure to metals and organic substances in workers at a hazardous waste incinerator after 3 years of operation

The potential adverse effects of hazardous waste incinerators (HWI) continue to be a subject of worry. The construction of the first and up till now only HWI in Spain finished in 1999. Twenty-six subjects employed at this HWI were divided into three groups: plant, laboratory and administration. Plasma analyses of HCB, PCBs (28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180), and PCDD/Fs, as well as urinary analyses of 2,4- and 2,5-dichlorophenol (DCPs), 2,4,5- and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCPs), pentachlorophenol (PCP), and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP) were carried out. Blood concentrations of Be, Mn, Hg and Pb, and urinary levels of Cd, Cr, Ni and V were also determined. In plant workers, the current levels of organic substances and metals in blood and urine did not show any increase for any of the compounds analysed (excepting urinary V). By contrast, plasma levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs 28, 52, 101, 138 and 153 were significantly lower than the respective baseline concentrations. The current chlorophenol concentrations in urine were similar or lower than the baseline levels, with the exception of 2,5-DCP that showed a significant increase. The concentrations of organic and inorganic substances found in this study do not differ from those corresponding to non-occupationally exposed subjects.