Worker exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in elastic polysulphide sealant renovation

Worker exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in renovation of prefabricated houses was assessed by biological monitoring of 24 PCB congeners including the 10 most abundant PCBs in elastic polysulphide sealants. Serum samples from 22 exposed and 21 non-exposed men were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionization. Total PCB concentration of 24 PCB congeners in workers' serum varied between 0.6 and 17.8 microg/l (mean 3.9 microg/l, median 1.9 microg/l). The Finnish upper reference limit for occupationally non-exposed persons (3 microg/l) was exceeded in the serum samples of 10 workers. Concentrations for non-exposed persons were 0.3-3.0 microg/l (mean 1.7 microg/l, median 1.5 microg/l). The concentration for the sum of the 10 most abundant PCB congeners in elastic polysulphide sealants in serum samples taken in autumn after the renovation season was 2-10 times higher than in samples from the same workers (n=5) taken in the previous spring. The concentrations of PCB congeners PCB 28, 52, 77, 101, 138, 153 and 180 in hygienic samples taken from the breathing zone of the workers were low, ranging from not detected to 3.1 microg/m3. The concentrations of PCB 28 and 52 in sera were positively correlated with the concentrations in air samples taken from the breathing zone of six workers (r=0.70 and 0.80).