MEASURES OF DEPRESSED MOOD IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO 2,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN (TCDD)

Previous studies of workers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) contaminated substances report symptoms associated with depressed mood. The effects of exposure to TCDD on measures of current symptoms of depression were evaluated as part of a cross-sectional medical study of 281 production workers and 260 unexposed age, race and community matched referents. Exposure occurred during the production of 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and its derivative products. Symptoms of depressed mood were measured by the Beck Depression Inventory and the depression subscale of the Self-Report Symptom Inventory-Revised-90 (SCL-90-R). Exposure to TCDD was assessed by measuring serum TCDD levels at the time of the medical study. Based on both logistic and multiple regression analyses, neither status as a worker, nor serum TCDD levels were related to either measure of depressed mood.