HEXACHLOROBENZENE AND OCTACHLOROSTYRENE IN PLASMA OF ALUMINUM FOUNDRYWORKERS USING HEXACHLOROETHANE FOR DEGASSING

Objectives-To study the load of selected organochlorine compounds in t he blood of aluminium foundry workers who use hexachloroethane as a de gassing agent for aluminium and to measure some possible effects on in ternal organs. Methods-Plasma from nine male aluminium foundry workers with past experience of use of hexachloroethane and 18 controls (two controls per exposed case) matched for residence, sex, age, and socioe conomic status was analysed for hexachlorobenzene (HCB), (P-HCB), and octachlorostyrene (P-OCS) with low resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Serum samples from the same subjects were analysed for s tandard kidney, pancreas, and liver function variables. Analysis of va riance (ANOVA) with the triplets retained, a non-parametric test, and linear regression were used for the analysis. Results-A fourfold incre ase of mean P-HCB was found among the exposed subjects compared with t he controls (313.1 v 66.9 ng/g lipid; P<0.01; (ANOVA model)). For P-OC S this difference was even larger (54.6 v 0.7 ng/g Lipid; P<0.01). Res ults were still significant (P<0.05) with non-parametric testing. With in the exposed group there was a good correlation between the In P-HCB (r=0.80) and In P-OCS (r=0.91), respectively, with the cumulative num ber of years of exposure to hexachloroethane. No significant differenc e in kidney, pancreas, or liver function was found between the two gro ups. Conclusions-Aluminium degassing with hexachloroethane may increas e the body burden of selected organochlorine compounds as reflected by HCB and OCS measurements. With the inherent limitations of this inves tigation no signs of subclinical organ toxicity were found.