Pentachlorophenol measurements in body fluids of people in log homes and workplaces

Human exposure to pentachlorophenol (PCP) was evaluated in the normal population (controls), residents of PCP-treated log homes, and persons exposed primarily in the workplace. Blood and urine samples were analyzed by gas chromatography after extraction and acetylation. For 34 controls, serum PCP values ranged from 15-75 ppb with a mean of 40 ppb. For 123 residents of log homes, serum levels ranged from 69-1,340 ppb with a mean of 420 ppb. In such homes, serum levels for children were significantly higher than those for parents, averaging 1.8 times greater. Serum and urine values for workers varied widely, depending on the workplace, with serum levels ranging from 26 to 84,900 ppb of PCP. Urinary concentrations when corrected for creatinine values correlated well (r = 0.92) with serum concentrations. Coating PCP-treated logs of home interiors with a sealant reduced serum PCP levels in the residents.