Blood levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and gamma-globulins in a follow-up investigation of employees with chloracne.

In a follow-up investigation of 8 employees who partly contracted chloracne between 1973 and 1976, elevated concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, 'Seveso dioxin') were found in blood lipids. The concentrations measured were between 163 and 1935 pg TCDD/g blood lipids, other 'dioxin' levels being normal or only slightly increased in comparison to the background level in the general population. The cause of this was exposure at work during the manufacture of trichlorophenol (TCP). Apart from high cholesterol levels, there was a conspicuous reduction in gamma-globulins.