Abstract
There are exposures to various organic and inorganic xenobiotics related to municipal waste incineration in work places and environment close to incinerators. Among others, these are polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans, chlorophenols, mono- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, toxic metals and irritation gases. Numerous studies revealed that these chemicals and their metabolites were generally not elevated in worker's blood and urine and in persons living near incinerators. The epidemiological studies indicate increased cancer risk and excess of ischemic heart disease in incinerator workers. In residents living in the vicinity of incinerators, a slightly increased cancer risk, respiratory symptoms, multiple pregnancy, congenital abnormalities, and disturbances in thyroid hormone levels were observed. However, these data do not provide univocal evidence that the cause-effect relationship between exposure and health risk does really exist.