Biological monitoring of metals and organic substances in hazardous-waste incineration workers

Abstract

The lack of differences between the current levels of metals and organic substances and the respective baseline concentrations, together with the absence of differences depending on the workplace indicate that the potential exposure of HWI workers to the analyzed compounds was insignificant. According to these results, 1 year of potential exposure to the above metals and organic substances would not mean any specific health problem for the workers at the HWI.

Levels of metals and organic substances in workers at a hazardous waste incinerator: a follow-up study

“…In agreement with the results of our previous surveys (Schuhmacher et al 2002b;Agramunt et al 2003Agramunt et al , 2004Mari et al 2007), the results of the present study performed after 8 years of regular operations in the HWI do not show evident signs of occupational exposure to a number of metals and organic substances. Most current concentrations are either similar or lower than the respective baseline levels.…”

“…Samples were mixed by equal volume per subject. The criteria used for pooling was previously reported (Schuhmacher et al 2002b). In contrast, the number of individual samples in 1999 was 21, 4 and 3 for plant, laboratory and administration, respectively.…”

“…The aim of the present study was to determine, after approximately 8 years of regular operations in the HWI, the concentrations of metals and organic substances in blood and urine samples of the HWI workers. In order to assess which was the temporal trend of these pollutants in the workers, the results of the present study have been compared with those of the baseline survey (Domingo et al 2001) and also with those of two previous studies (2000 and 2005) (Schuhmacher et al 2002b;Mari et al 2007). …”

“…It is also useful to evaluate the temporal changes in individuals occupationally exposed to a deWned pollutant. Since the baseline data were obtained (Domingo et al 2001), we have annually measured in the workers of the HWI the concentrations of metals and the organic substances also measured in the baseline survey (Schuhmacher et al 2002b;Agramunt et al 2003Agramunt et al , 2004Mari et al 2007). The aim of the present study was to determine, after approximately 8 years of regular operations in the HWI, the concentrations of metals and organic substances in blood and urine samples of the HWI workers.…”

Systematic Review: Occupational illness in the waste and recycling sector

“…Municipal waste incinerator emissions to air and fly ash waste containing heavy metals, polychlorinated dioxins, dibenzofurans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and particulate matter were reported, but there were no reported illnesses from these exposures. Three cross-sectional studies of hazardous waste incinerator workers showed mean concentrations of heavy metals, polychlorinated dioxins and biphenyls in blood or urine to be no different from controls in newer incinerators [ 38–40 ]. Exposure to solvents in paint is another potential hazard, but no cases of occupational illness from this were found.…”