The French Dioxin and Incinerators Study was carried out by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance and the French Food Safety Agency in 8 different areas in France around municipal solid wastes incinerators. The population study was made up of adults who had been living for at least 10 years in the study area, not occupationally exposed to dioxins and for women with no breastfeeding. The individuals were selected through a random sampling and were provided 200 ml blood serum samples as well as their personal characteristics, eating habits, occupational and environmental exposure through a face to face interview. Exposure was assessed by serum concentrations of dioxins, furans and PCBs. The main goal of the study was to investigate whether living around incinerators was associated with elevated blood dioxins, furans and PCBs levels. To respond to this question, several statistical methods were used including univariate and multivariate analyses. All analyses were adjusted for survey sampling weights and used methods taken in to account the presence of non-detects. (R.A.)