Several studies have been conducted to assess the exposure of a cohort of former herbicide-producing workers to PCDD/F and other potential carcinogenic substances and to evaluate the morbidity and mortality, especially for cancer, but also for other causes of death. For a quantitative dose-response analyses, a PCDD/F-blood exposure indicator was constructed from available blood levels for n = 190 workers and its relation to the working times in 14 different production departments. These indicators were used in Cox-regression models relating total cancer mortality to estimated TEQ at the end of exposure. A significant trend was observed for total cancer mortality and estimated TEQ levels at the end of exposure. The form of the dose response curve appeared to be slightly sublinear in the observed dose range. For all cardiovascular diseases (CVD), a numerical increase in risk was first observed in the third quintile of the exposure indicator 39.6-98.9 ng/kg; (RR 1.20; 0.82, 1.76), increasing to 1.70 (1.02, 2.85) in the last decile (545.1-4,361.9 ng/kg). For IHD a numerical increase was first observed in the group with TEQ ranging from 278.6 to 545.0 ng/kg (RR 1.26; 0.67, 2.39). In the highest decile, a RR of 2.17 (1.18, 4.00) was observed. The trend tests were significant for both outcomes. Unlike for cancer for CVD and IHD no increase in risk was observed in the lower dose ranges.
