Web Release Date: June 27,
Occupational Exposure to Hexabromocyclododecane at an Industrial Plant
k,
and
Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway, and National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway
Received for review February 2, 2007
Revised manuscript received April 25, 2007
Accepted May 7, 2007
Abstract:
Occupational exposure to hexabromocyclododecane
(HBCD) among workers at an industrial plant producing
expandable polystyrene (PS) added HBCD as flame retardant
has been assessed in the present study. Airborne dust
samples were collected near the breathing zone of 10 male
workers during three 8-h work shifts. The HBCD
concentrations in the airborne dust varied from 0.2 to 150 
g/m3 (mean 12.2 and median 2.1 g/m3). Two serum samples
were obtained from each of the workers. The mean
serum concentration was 190 ng/g lipids; the median was
101 ng/g lipids (range 6 to 856 ng/g lipids). HBCD was
not detected above 1 ng/g lipids (LOD) in any samples from
persons in a reference group with no occupational
exposure to HBCD. The contribution of 
-HBCD to the
total HBCD serum concentration was notably high (39%)
compared to what has usually been observed in biological
samples. There was no clear correlation of serum levels
with average HBCD concentrations in the airborne
dust samples collected near the subjects' breathing zone.
The elevated exposure levels reported in this study
compared to urban air and serum levels in general
populations suggest that further and more detailed exposure
assessment studies should be initiated in industries
where HBCD is applied.
Download the full text: PDF | HTML
