Table 1

Characteristics of incinerator workers and control workers at the three areas

ABC
Incinerator workersControlsIncinerator workersControlsIncinerator workersControls
Workers (n)101010101010
Age (y, mean (SD))50.4 (5.4)52.5 (4.0)47.8 (4.4)48.2 (5.5)45.4 (3.4)43.9 (4.2)
Employment duration at incineration plant (y, mean (SD))22.0 (5.9)023.6 (3.3)024.5 (3.0)0
Previous job with potential for dioxin exposure in agriculture (workers, n)111010
Dietary habit (times/week, mean (SD)):
 Fish6.7 (3.4)6.7 (2.9)7.4 (3.4)9.3 (3.5)7.2 (3.6)6.8 (3.6)
 Meat6.6 (3.0)1-150 3.9 (1.8)6.1 (3.8)6.5 (3.0)7.5 (4.1)6.5 (1.4)
 Milk6.3 (4.8)3.0 (2.2)4.3 (4.1)5.6 (4.4)6.1 (4.9)2.7 (2.9)
Current smoking habit:
 Non-smokers (workers, n)647457
 Smokers (workers, n)463653
 Brinkman index (cigarettes/day×y, mean (SD))1038 (242)895 (405)700 (520)570 (140)690 (320)730 (429)
Distance from municipal incinaration plant to residence (workers, n):
 <5 km3422910
 ⩾5 km768810
Body mass index (kg/m2, mean (SD))23.5 (3.3)23.2 (2.9)23.3 (3.4)25.5 (2.3)22.7 (3.0)25.6 (3.7)
  • 1-150 p<0.05.