Transfer at home of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and beta-hexachlorocyclohexone?

Persons living together with workers who have been exposed to dioxins, fura ns or hexachlorocyclohexane, accumulate increased concentrations of these m olecules in the blood and in fatty tissue, in comparison with normal people . This result is based on an investigation of 14 workers and their female p artners. The workers had been contaminated with high concentrations of 2,3, 7,8-TCDD and moderate concentrations of beta -HCH, respectively, in contras t with their female partners who had never been exposed to these poisons. N evertheless, the female partners accumulated a significant amount of these molecules, corresponding to 10% of the concentrations of their male partner s. The origin of this correlation is still unknown. As a working hypothesis , we discuss the possibility of molecular transfer by clothing and underwea r. The clinical consequences of these findings are still unclear. Further o bservations are needed.