[Serum polychlorinated biphenyls in workers of a second-smelting steel mill].

In the steel industry polychlorodibenzodioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may be present deriving from the fusion of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap, as well as for the thermal decomposition of the plastic materials (thermoplastic and thermosetting resins) contained therein and not removed before melting at high temperatures. The aim of the study was to assess in 52 workers of a secondmelting steel plant the PCBs exposure deriving from the manual handling of ferrous scrap waste eventually contaminated. The population was divided by production department (scrap, casting and office).