Use of PCB blood levels to assess potential exposure following an electrical transformer explosion

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · JOM, Journal of Occupational Medicine; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-199211000-00009· OSTI ID:6833485

Wolff, M S; Schecter, A ^[1]

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1. Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY (United States)

Following the explosion of a transformer, passersby, building occupants, and cleanup personnel had potential exposure to the transformer dielectric fluid containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). As part of a medical evaluation, blood serum was analyzed for PCBs, and the concentrations found were similar to that of a regional comparison group (median 4.0 ng/mL or parts per billion, range 1-10, n = 60). Some workers employed by the utility company that owned the transformer had potential exposure to PCBs in the past. This positive comparison group had significantly higher serum PCB concentrations, related to known direct contact (median 5.0, mean 14 ng/mL, 1-187, n = 25) or not (median 4.0, mean 11 ng/mL, 2-72, n = 17). Therefore, in this investigation, elevation of serum PCB levels could be related to past contact during work with transformers, but not to potential short-term exposure at the time of a transfer explosion.

• OSTI ID: 6833485
• Journal Information: JOM, Journal of Occupational Medicine; (United States), Journal Name: JOM, Journal of Occupational Medicine; (United States) Vol. 34:11; ISSN JJOMDZ; ISSN 0096-1736
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BLOOD SERUM
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICITY
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
EXPLOSIONS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
LEVELS
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
PRIMATES
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
STATISTICS
TRANSFORMERS
VERTEBRATES