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Bonner EM, Poutasse CM, Haddock CK, Poston WSC, Jahnke SA, Tidwell LG, Anderson KA. Addressing the need for individual-level exposure monitoring for firefighters using silicone samplers. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2024:10.1038/s41370-024-00700-y. [PMID: 39033252 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-024-00700-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Firefighters are occupationally exposed to hazardous chemical mixtures. Silicone passive sampling devices capture unique exposures over time with minimal impact to the participant and allow for the analysis of a broad chemical space. OBJECTIVE Silicone dog tags were worn by firefighters while on- and off-duty to measure individual exposures, identify potential occupational exposures, and assess their relation to occupational variables including fire response frequency, rank, and years as a firefighter. METHODS Fifty-six firefighters were recruited from two fire departments with relatively high and low call volumes in the Kansas City metropolitan area to wear two different silicone dog tags as passive samplers while on- and off-duty. Each dog tag was worn for a cumulative 30-day exposure period. Extracts of the dog tags were analyzed with gas chromatography, mass spectrometry methods for 43 flame retardants (FRs), 21 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 42 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 63 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). RESULTS Ninety-two total chemicals were detected, with eight chemicals not previously reported in firefighter exposure studies. Based on the magnitude and frequency of increased exposure in on-duty dog tags, relative to paired off-duty dog tags, five PBDEs and sec-butylbenzene were identified as potential occupational exposures; sec-butylbenzene and PBDE 49 have not previously been reported in firefighter exposure studies to the authors' knowledge. Multivariate analyses for these six compounds indicated that firefighter rank, fire response rates, and years in the fire service were poor indicators of increased occupational exposure. The greatest on-duty exposures to PBDEs were found in the low-call volume department among operational firefighters. Dog tags from firefighters at the high-call volume department accounted for 75% of PCB detections; one particular fire response may have contributed to this. Additionally, there was measurable similarity in total chemical exposure profiles between paired on- and off-duty tags for some firefighters. IMPACT This study used personal silicone passive samplers in the configuration of dog tags worn around the neck to quantify firefighter occupational exposure in on-duty samples relative to paired off-duty samples for several chemical categories: flame retardants, VOCs, and PCBs. Five PBDEs and sec-butylbenzene were identified as potential occupational exposures, however their prevalence in on-duty tags was not associated with frequency of fire responses, firefighter rank, or years the firefighter has been in the fire service. Additionally, similarity between chemical exposures in on- and off-duty tags from the same firefighter invites further investigation into individual behaviors influencing occupational and para-occupational exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Bonner
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | | | - Christopher K Haddock
- Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI)-USA, Leawood, KS, USA
| | - Walker S C Poston
- Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI)-USA, Leawood, KS, USA
| | - Sara A Jahnke
- Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI)-USA, Leawood, KS, USA
| | - Lane G Tidwell
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Kim A Anderson
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
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Pálešová N, Řiháčková K, Kuta J, Pindur A, Šebejová L, Čupr P. Internal Flames: Metal(loid) Exposure Linked to Alteration of the Lipid Profile in Czech Male Firefighters (CELSPAC-FIREexpo Study). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2024; 11:679-686. [PMID: 39006815 PMCID: PMC11238583 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Increased wildfire activity increases the demands on fire rescue services and firefighters' contact with harmful chemicals. This study aimed to determine firefighters' exposure to toxic metal(loid)s and its association with the lipid profile. CELSPAC-FIREexpo study participants (including 110 firefighters) provided urine and blood samples to quantify urinary levels of metal(loid)s (arsenic, cadmium (Cd), mercury, and lead (Pb)), and serum lipid biomarkers (cholesterol (CHOL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides (TG)). The associations were investigated by using multiple linear regression and Bayesian weighted quantile sum (BWQS) regression. Higher levels of Pb were observed in firefighters. Pb was positively associated with CHOL and TG. Cd was negatively associated with HDL. In the BWQS model, the mixture of metal(loid)s was associated positively with CHOL (β = 14.75, 95% CrI = 2.45-29.08), LDL (β = 15.14, 95% CrI = 3.39-29.35), and TG (β = 14.79, 95% CrI = 0.73-30.42), while negatively with HDL (β = -14.96, 95% CrI = -25.78 to -1.8). Pb emerged as a key component in a metal(loid) mixture. The results suggest that higher exposure to lead and the mixture of metal(loid)s is associated with the alteration of the lipid profile, which can result in an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile, especially in occupationally exposed firefighters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Pálešová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katarína Řiháčková
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kuta
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Pindur
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Training Centre of Fire Rescue Service, Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, Ministry of the Interior, Trnkova 85, 628 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ludmila Šebejová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Čupr
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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Teixeira J, Sousa G, Azevedo R, Almeida A, Delerue-Matos C, Wang X, Santos-Silva A, Rodrigues F, Oliveira M. Characterization of Wildland Firefighters' Exposure to Coarse, Fine, and Ultrafine Particles; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; and Metal(loid)s, and Estimation of Associated Health Risks. TOXICS 2024; 12:422. [PMID: 38922102 PMCID: PMC11209316 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12060422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Firefighters' occupational activity causes cancer, and the characterization of exposure during firefighting activities remains limited. This work characterizes, for the first time, firefighters' exposure to (coarse/fine/ultrafine) particulate matter (PM) bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal(loid)s during prescribed fires, Fire 1 and Fire 2 (210 min). An impactor collected 14 PM fractions, the PM levels were determined by gravimetry, and the PM-bound PAHs and metal(loid)s were determined by chromatographic and spectroscopic methodologies, respectively. Firefighters were exposed to a total PM level of 1408.3 and 342.5 µg/m3 in Fire 1 and Fire 2, respectively; fine/ultrafine PM represented more than 90% of total PM. Total PM-bound PAHs (3260.2 ng/m3 in Fire 1; 412.1 ng/m3 in Fire 2) and metal(loid)s (660.8 ng/m3 versus 262.2 ng/m3), distributed between fine/ultrafine PM, contained 4.57-24.5% and 11.7-12.6% of (possible/probable) carcinogenic PAHs and metal(loid)s, respectively. Firefighters' exposure to PM, PAHs, and metal(loid)s were below available occupational limits. The estimated carcinogenic risks associated with the inhalation of PM-bound PAHs (3.78 × 10-9 - 1.74 × 10-6) and metal(loid)s (1.50 × 10-2 - 2.37 × 10-2) were, respectively, below and 150-237 times higher than the acceptable risk level defined by the USEPA during 210 min of firefighting activity and assuming a 40-year career as a firefighter. Additional studies need to (1) explore exposure to (coarse/fine/ultrafine) PM, (2) assess health risks, (3) identify intervention needs, and (4) support regulatory agencies recommending mitigation procedures to reduce the impact of fire effluents on firefighters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Teixeira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
- REQUIMTE/UCIBIO, Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Gabriel Sousa
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Azevedo
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Almeida
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristina Delerue-Matos
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - Xianyu Wang
- QAEHS, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Alice Santos-Silva
- REQUIMTE/UCIBIO, Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado i4HB, Instituto para a Saúde e a Bioeconomia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Francisca Rodrigues
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Oliveira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
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Kaczmarzyk P, Warguła Ł, Janik P, Krawiec P, Bąk D, Klapsa W. Problems of operation of positive pressure ventilators on the basis of surveys of Polish officers of the State Fire Service. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10795. [PMID: 38734823 PMCID: PMC11088689 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61507-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Positive pressure ventilators (PPV) used by 97.7% of officers of the National Fire Service in Poland, are characterized by work that is not in line with the expectations of the firefighters. In order to improve the technical and operational features of these devices, a survey was conducted among 25,000 eligible firefighters, identifying the application of these devices, problems in use and expected development directions. A total of 682 officers voluntarily completed the survey. Based on their findings, it was determined that ventilators are most often used to smoke out buildings after or during a fire. Mentioned problems when using these devices were mainly noise (78.2%), exhaust emissions (68.5%), and impediments to mobility through the device's relatively heavy weight (40.2%). Other inconveniences were mentioned by less than 20% of firefighters. Polish firefighters expect the development of these devices mainly in terms of the above-mentioned features (noise reduction (81.7%) and reduction of the weight and size of the ventilators (about 50%)). Other expectations relate to the improvement of smoke removal in buildings: increasing the efficiency of smoke removal (46.4%) and efficiency regarding the rate of smoke removal in a building by increasing the size of the incoming airflow from the building's surroundings (33.2%). About 15% of firefighters expect changes in the operation of the ventilator itself, that is, an increase in the effective operating time (electric ventilators) and an increase in the device's uptime. The aim of the article is to identify the issues encountered during the operation and to indicate the expected direction of development for PPV by users. This information can be used by engineers to initiate new development work on these devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Kaczmarzyk
- Science and Research Centre for Fire Protection, National Research Institute, 05-420, Józefów, Poland.
- Institute of Machine Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Poznań University of Technology, 60-965, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Łukasz Warguła
- Institute of Machine Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Poznań University of Technology, 60-965, Poznań, Poland
| | - Paweł Janik
- Science and Research Centre for Fire Protection, National Research Institute, 05-420, Józefów, Poland
| | - Piotr Krawiec
- Institute of Machine Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Poznań University of Technology, 60-965, Poznań, Poland
| | - Damian Bąk
- Science and Research Centre for Fire Protection, National Research Institute, 05-420, Józefów, Poland
| | - Wojciech Klapsa
- Science and Research Centre for Fire Protection, National Research Institute, 05-420, Józefów, Poland
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Chernyak YI. Polymorphic Loci of Xenobiotic Biotransformation Genes in Accumulated Mercury Pollution Liquidators and in Workers with Chronic Mercury Vapors Exposure. Bull Exp Biol Med 2024; 176:796-800. [PMID: 38890213 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-024-06111-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The allele and genotype frequencies of the polymorphic loci CYP1A1 (rs1048943), GSTP1 (rs1695 and rs1138272), GSTM1, and GSTT1 genes were studied in 517 men: in 389 accumulated mercury pollution liquidators (207 firefighters of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters and 182 employees of the Federal Environmental Operator) and 128 former workers (82 patients in the delayed period of chronic mercury intoxication and 46 individuals contacted with mercury and had no chronic mercury intoxication). We found differences in the frequencies of AA and AG genotypes in groups of former workers (χ2=6.96, p=0.008) for the polymorphic locus rs1048943, while the AG-CYP1A1 genotype was characterized by a 5.5-fold decrease in the odds ratio for the development of chronic mercury intoxication (OR=0.18, p=0.0041). An unfavorable combination of genotypes of the studied polymorphic loci increases the risk of undesirable health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu I Chernyak
- East-Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research, Angarsk, Russia.
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6
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Barros B, Paiva AM, Oliveira M, Alves S, Esteves F, Fernandes A, Vaz J, Slezakova K, Costa S, Teixeira JP, Morais S. Baseline data and associations between urinary biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, blood pressure, hemogram, and lifestyle among wildland firefighters. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1338435. [PMID: 38510349 PMCID: PMC10950961 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1338435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Available literature has found an association between firefighting and pathologic pathways leading to cardiorespiratory diseases, which have been linked with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are highlighted as priority pollutants by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative in occupational and non-occupational contexts. Methods This cross-sectional study is the first to simultaneously characterize six creatinine-adjusted PAHs metabolites (OHPAHs) in urine, blood pressure, cardiac frequency, and hemogram parameters among wildland firefighters without occupational exposure to fire emissions (> 7 days), while exploring several variables retrieved via questionnaires. Results Overall, baseline levels for total OHPAHs levels were 2 to 23-times superior to the general population, whereas individual metabolites remained below the general population median range (except for 1-hydroxynaphthalene+1-hydroxyacenaphtene). Exposure to gaseous pollutants and/or particulate matter during work-shift was associated with a 3.5-fold increase in total OHPAHs levels. Firefighters who smoke presented 3-times higher total concentration of OHPAHs than non-smokers (p < 0.001); non-smoker females presented 2-fold lower total OHPAHs (p = 0.049) than males. 1-hydroxypyrene was below the recommended occupational biological exposure value (2.5 μg/L), and the metabolite of carcinogenic PAH (benzo(a)pyrene) was not detected. Blood pressure was above 120/80 mmHg in 71% of subjects. Firefighters from the permanent intervention team presented significantly increased systolic pressure than those who performed other functions (p = 0.034). Tobacco consumption was significantly associated with higher basophils (p = 0.01-0.02) and hematocrit (p = 0.03). No association between OHPAHs and blood pressure was found. OHPAHs concentrations were positively correlated with monocyte, basophils, large immune cells, atypical lymphocytes, and mean corpuscular volume, which were stronger among smokers. Nevertheless, inverse associations were observed between fluorene and pyrene metabolites with neutrophils and eosinophils, respectively, in non-smokers. Hemogram was negatively affected by overworking and lower physical activity. Conclusion This study suggests possible associations between urinary PAHs metabolites and health parameters in firefighters, that should be further assessed in larger groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bela Barros
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Margarida Paiva
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Oliveira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Alves
- Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, UICISA: E, Unidade de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde: Enfermagem, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Filipa Esteves
- Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- EPIUnit – Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Adília Fernandes
- Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, UICISA: E, Unidade de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde: Enfermagem, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Josiana Vaz
- CIMO, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Centro de Investigação de Montanha Campus Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
- SusTEC, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Sustec – Associate Laboratory for Sustainability and Technology in Inland Regions – Campus Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Klara Slezakova
- LEPABE-ALiCE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Solange Costa
- Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
- EPIUnit – Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Teixeira
- Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
- EPIUnit – Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Simone Morais
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Gonzalez DE, Lanham SN, Martin SE, Cleveland RE, Wilson TE, Langford EL, Abel MG. Firefighter Health: A Narrative Review of Occupational Threats and Countermeasures. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:440. [PMID: 38391814 PMCID: PMC10888326 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12040440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Structural firefighters are responsible for protecting properties and saving lives during emergency operations. Despite efforts to prepare firefighters for these hazardous occupational demands, the unfortunate reality is that the incidence of health morbidities is increasing within the fire service. Specifically, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mental health disorders are among the most documented morbidities in firefighters. Pubmed and Google Scholar search engines were used to identify peer-reviewed English language manuscripts that evaluated firefighters' occupational health threats, allostatic factors associated with their occurrence, and evidence-based strategies to mitigate their impact. This narrative review provides fire departments, practitioners, and researchers with evidence-based practices to enhance firefighters' health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew E Gonzalez
- Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Sarah N Lanham
- First Responder Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Steven E Martin
- Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Richard E Cleveland
- Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30458, USA
| | - Thad E Wilson
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Emily L Langford
- First Responder Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
- Department of Health and Human Sciences, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL 35115, USA
| | - Mark G Abel
- First Responder Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
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Engelsman M, Banks APW, He C, Nilsson S, Blake D, Jayarthne A, Ishaq Z, Toms LML, Wang X. An Exploratory Analysis of Firefighter Reproduction through Survey Data and Biomonitoring. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085472. [PMID: 37107753 PMCID: PMC10138572 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Firefighters are occupationally exposed to chemicals that may affect fertility. To investigate this effect, firefighters were recruited to contribute blood, urine, breast milk or semen samples to (1) evaluate chemical concentrations and semen parameters against fertility standards and the general population; (2) assess correlations between chemical concentrations and demographics, fire exposure and reproductive history; and (3) consider how occupational exposures may affect reproduction. A total of 774 firefighters completed the online survey, and 97 firefighters produced 125 urine samples, 113 plasma samples, 46 breast milk samples and 23 semen samples. Blood, urine and breast milk samples were analysed for chemical concentrations (semivolatile organic compounds, volatile organic compounds, metals). Semen samples were analysed for quality (volume, count, motility, morphology). Firefighter semen parameters were below WHO reference values across multiple parameters. Self-reported rates of miscarriage were higher than the general population (22% vs. 12-15%) and in line with prior firefighter studies. Estimated daily intake for infants was above reference values for multiple chemicals in breast milk. More frequent fire incident exposure (more than once per fortnight), longer duration of employment (≥15 years) or not always using a breathing apparatus demonstrated significantly higher concentrations across a range of investigated chemicals. Findings of this study warrant further research surrounding the risk occupational exposure has on reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Engelsman
- Fire and Rescue NSW, Greenacre, NSW 2190, Australia
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrew P. W. Banks
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Chang He
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Sandra Nilsson
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | | | - Ayomi Jayarthne
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Zubaria Ishaq
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Leisa-Maree L. Toms
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Xianyu Wang
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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Barros B, Oliveira M, Morais S. Biomonitoring of firefighting forces: a review on biomarkers of exposure to health-relevant pollutants released from fires. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2023; 26:127-171. [PMID: 36748115 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2023.2172119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Occupational exposure as a firefighter has recently been classified as a carcinogen to humans by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Biomonitoring has been increasingly used to characterize exposure of firefighting forces to contaminants. However, available data are dispersed and information on the most relevant and promising biomarkers in this context of firefighting is missing. This review presents a comprehensive summary and critical appraisal of existing biomarkers of exposure including volatile organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, several other persistent other organic pollutants as well as heavy metals and metalloids detected in biological fluids of firefighters attending different fire scenarios. Urine was the most characterized matrix, followed by blood. Firefighters exhaled breath and saliva were poorly evaluated. Overall, biological levels of compounds were predominantly increased in firefighters after participation in firefighting activities. Biomonitoring studies combining different biomarkers of exposure and of effect are currently limited but exploratory findings are of high interest. However, biomonitoring still has some unresolved major limitations since reference or recommended values are not yet established for most biomarkers. In addition, half-lives values for most of the biomarkers have thus far not been defined, which significantly hampers the design of studies. These limitations need to be tackled urgently to improve risk assessment and support implementation of better more effective preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bela Barros
- REQUIMTE-LAQV,Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Oliveira
- REQUIMTE-LAQV,Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Simone Morais
- REQUIMTE-LAQV,Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Bonner EM, Horn GP, Smith DL, Kerber S, Fent KW, Tidwell LG, Scott RP, Adams KT, Anderson KA. Silicone passive sampling used to identify novel dermal chemical exposures of firefighters and assess PPE innovations. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114095. [PMID: 36508961 PMCID: PMC9930175 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A plethora of chemicals are released into the air during combustion events, including a class of compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs have been implicated in increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, both of which are disease endpoints of concern in structural firefighters. Current commercially available personal protective equipment (PPE) typically worn by structural firefighters during fire responses have gaps in interfaces between the ensemble elements (e.g., hood and jacket) that allow for ingress of contaminants and dermal exposure. This pilot study aims to use silicone passive sampling to assess improvements in dermal protection afforded by a novel configuration of PPE, which incorporates a one-piece liner to eliminate gaps in two critical interfaces between pieces of gear. The study compared protection against parent and alkylated PAHs between the one-piece liner PPE and the standard configuration of PPE with traditional firefighting jacket and pants. Mannequins (n = 16) dressed in the PPE ensembles were placed in a Fireground Exposure Simulator for 10 min, and exposed to smoke from a combusting couch. Silicone passive samplers were placed underneath PPE at vulnerable locations near interfaces in standard PPE, and in the chamber air, to measure PAHs and calculate the dermal protection provided by both types of PPE. Silicone passive sampling methodology and analyses using gas chromatography with mass-spectrometry proved to be well-suited for this intervention study, allowing for the calculation and comparison of worker protection factors for 51 detected PAHs. Paired comparisons of the two PPE configurations found greater sum 2-3 ring PAH exposure underneath the standard PPE than the intervention PPE at the neck and chest, and at the chest for 4-7 ring PAHs (respective p-values: 0.00113, 0.0145, and 0.0196). Mean worker protection factors of the intervention PPE were also greater than the standard PPE for 98% of PAHs at the neck and chest. Notably, the intervention PPE showed more than 30 times the protection compared to the standard PPE against two highly carcinogenic PAHs, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and benzo[c]fluorene. Nine of the detected PAHs in this study have not been previously reported in fireground exposure studies, and 26 other chemicals (not PAHs) were detected using a large chemical screening method on a subset of the silicone samplers. Silicone passive sampling appears to be an effective means for measuring dermal exposure reduction to fireground smoke, providing evidence in this study that reducing gaps in PPE interfaces could be further pursued as an intervention to reduce dermal exposure to PAHs, among other chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Bonner
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agricultural & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Gavin P Horn
- Fire Safety Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, Columbia, MD, 21045, USA; Illinois Fire Service Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61820, USA.
| | - Denise L Smith
- Department of Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, 815 N Broadway St, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, USA; Illinois Fire Service Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61820, USA.
| | - Steve Kerber
- Fire Safety Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, Columbia, MD, 21045, USA.
| | - Kenneth W Fent
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1090 Tusculum Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45226, USA.
| | - Lane G Tidwell
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agricultural & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Richard P Scott
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agricultural & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Kaley T Adams
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agricultural & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Kim A Anderson
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agricultural & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
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Taeger D, Koslitz S, Käfferlein HU, Pelzl T, Heinrich B, Breuer D, Weiss T, Harth V, Behrens T, Brüning T. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons assessed by biomonitoring of firefighters during fire operations in Germany. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114110. [PMID: 36634384 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Firefighters are exposed to a variety of hazardous substances including carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) during firefighting. In order to minimize the uptake of such substances into the body, firefighters wear personal protective equipment. Only few data exist from real-life firefighting missions and under common although highly variable exposure scenarios such as fighting fires in residential buildings, outdoor, and vehicle fires. The aim of this study is to assess the levels of 1-Hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as marker for incorporated PAH during firefighting operations in Germany using biomonitoring methods. METHODS We analyzed urine samples for 1-OHP from 77 firefighters who reported firefighting operations (with and without creatinine adjustment). Urine samples were collected before (baseline) and, where applicable, after firefighting operations at three time points subsequent (2-4, 6-8, and 12 h). RESULTS Compared to the baseline measurements, mean 1-OHP concentrations after firefighting missions were doubled (0.14 vs. 0.31 μg/L urine, 0.13 μg/g vs. 0.27 μg/g creatinine) and this increase was observed 2-4 h after firefighting. Firefighting in residential buildings (N = 54) and of outdoor and vehicle fires (N = 17) occurred most frequently, whereas blazes, vegetation fires, and fires in underground facilities (N = 6) were rarely encountered. For residential building fires, a 3-fold increase in mean 1-OPH concentrations was observed, whereas no increase could be observed for outdoor and vehicle fires. The highest increase was observed for firefighters with interior attack missions (0.11 μg/L vs. 0.48 μg/L 1-OHP) despite the use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). During the suppression of outdoor or vehicle fires using SCBA, again, no increase was observed. Although PAH are taken up during certain firefighting missions, the 1-OHP levels almost entirely remained (in 64 of the 77 reported missions) within the normal range of the German general population, i.e., below the reference levels (95th percentiles) of smokers (0.73 μg/g creatinine) and non-smokers (0.30 μg/g creatine). CONCLUSION Under study conditions, properly applied protective clothing and wearing of SCBA led to a significant reduction of PAH exposure levels. But there are individual situations in which PAH are increasingly incorporated since the incorporation depends on several factors and can be extremely variable. In contrast to many workplaces with high occupational exposure levels, firefighters are not exposed to PAH on a daily basis. Nevertheless, the possibility of an individual increased cancer risk for a particular firefighter cannot completely be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Taeger
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
| | - Stephan Koslitz
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
| | - Heiko U Käfferlein
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
| | - Tim Pelzl
- Unfallkasse Baden-Württemberg (UKBW), Germany
| | - Birgit Heinrich
- Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Dietmar Breuer
- Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Tobias Weiss
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
| | - Volker Harth
- Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany
| | - Thomas Behrens
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Brüning
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
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12
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Mental health of UK firefighters. Sci Rep 2023; 13:62. [PMID: 36627314 PMCID: PMC9832123 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24834-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to trauma, high-stress situations, and disrupted sleep are well known risk factors affecting firefighters' mental health. Little is known about the association between firefighters' exposure to fire contaminants and mental health disorders. The UK Firefighter Contamination Survey assessed firefighters' health and capacity for occupational exposure to contaminants. Participants were invited to anonymously complete its 64 questions online. Logistic regression analyses assessed the associations between self-reported mental health disorders and proxies of contaminant exposure. Results found that firefighters who notice soot in their nose/throat for more than a day after attending fires (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.8, 1.4-2.4), and those who remain in their personal protective equipment (PPE) for over 4 h after fires (OR = 1.9, 1.2-3.1), were nearly twice as likely to report mental health disorders. Significantly increased odds ratios for all three outcomes of interest (anxiety, depression and/or any mental health disorders) were also found among firefighters who take PPE home to clean. Sleeping problems were reported by 61% of firefighters. These firefighters were 4.2 times more likely to report any mental health disorder (OR = 4.2, 3.7-4.9), 2.9 times more likely to report anxiety (OR = 2.9, 2.4-3.5) and 2.3 times more likely to report depression (OR = 2.3, 1.9-2.8) when compared to firefighters who did not report sleep issues. Effective decontamination measures within UK Fire and Rescue Services, together with firefighters' wellness, may play a crucial role in protecting firefighters' mental health.
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13
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Wolffe TAM, Robinson A, Dickens K, Turrell L, Clinton A, Maritan-Thomson D, Joshi M, Stec AA. Cancer incidence amongst UK firefighters. Sci Rep 2023; 12:22072. [PMID: 36627291 PMCID: PMC9831995 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24410-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Firefighters suffer an increased risk of cancer from exposures to chemicals released from fires. Our earlier research has found that fire toxicants not only remain on firefighters' PPE, but are also tracked back to fire stations. The UK Firefighter Contamination Survey assesses firefighters' risk of developing cancer due to occupational exposure to fire toxins. Over 4% of surveyed firefighters were found to have a cancer diagnosis, with the age-specific cancer rate up to 323% higher (35-39 year olds) than that of the general population. Firefighters who had served ≥ 15 years were 1.7 times more likely to develop cancer than those who had served less time. Firefighters were at least twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer if they noticed soot in their nose/throat (odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, 1.1-3.5), or remained in their PPE for more than four hours after attending a fire incident (OR = 2.3, 1.1-5.2). Also associated with an increased likelihood of cancer was: eating while wearing PPE (OR = 1.8, 1.2-2.7); failing to store clean/dirty PPE separately (OR = 1.3, 1.0-1.7); working in a station that smells of fire (OR = 1.3, 1.0-1.8) or not having designated (separated) clean and dirty areas (OR = 1.4, 1.1-1.7); using an on-site washing machine to launder fire hoods (OR = 1.3, 1.0-1.7); feeling that cleaning is not taken seriously at work (OR = 1.5, 1.2-2.0).
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor A. M. Wolffe
- grid.7943.90000 0001 2167 3843Centre for Fire and Hazards Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE UK
| | - Andrew Robinson
- grid.7943.90000 0001 2167 3843Centre for Fire and Hazards Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE UK ,grid.416204.50000 0004 0391 9602Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9HT UK
| | - Kathryn Dickens
- grid.7943.90000 0001 2167 3843Centre for Fire and Hazards Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE UK
| | - Louis Turrell
- grid.7943.90000 0001 2167 3843Centre for Fire and Hazards Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE UK ,grid.416204.50000 0004 0391 9602Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9HT UK
| | - Anna Clinton
- grid.7943.90000 0001 2167 3843Centre for Fire and Hazards Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE UK
| | - Daniella Maritan-Thomson
- grid.7943.90000 0001 2167 3843Centre for Fire and Hazards Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE UK
| | - Miland Joshi
- grid.7943.90000 0001 2167 3843Lancashire Clinical Trials Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE UK
| | - Anna A. Stec
- grid.7943.90000 0001 2167 3843Centre for Fire and Hazards Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE UK
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Kunz KR, Turcotte K, Pawer S, Zheng A, Purewal A, Wellar A, Karmali S, Garis L, Thomas LS, Pike I. Cancer in female firefighters: The clinicobiological, psychological, and social perspectives. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1126066. [PMID: 37124817 PMCID: PMC10130581 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1126066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study explored how demographic characteristics, life experiences, and firefighting exposures have an impact on cancer among female firefighters, and described the types and biologic characteristics of cancers as reported by women in the fire service. Methods The online survey was available from June 2019 to July 2020. Questions related to demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, firefighting exposures, and cancer diagnoses. Descriptive analyses characterized variables by the presence or absence of cancer. Qualitative data provided insight into both firefighting and cancer experiences among women. Results There were 1,344 female firefighter respondents from 12 different countries, 256 of whom provided information on their cancer diagnosis. North American respondents made up 92% of the total. Those with cancer were older, had been in the fire service longer, had more career fires and toxic exposures, and were less likely to still be in active service. They also reported more tobacco use, and more full-term pregnancies. There were no differences in family history of cancer between the two groups. The average age at diagnosis was 39.0 years. The major types of cancer reported included breast (25.4%), cervical (21.1%), melanoma (20.7%), base cell/skin (16.4%), and uterine (14.8%). The cancer was detected when seeking medical attention for symptoms (42.1%), during routine health screening (29.8%), and during specific cancer screening (28.1%). The stage of cancer was reported by 44.5%, and 30.9% included the histopathological grade. Treatments included surgery (72.7%), chemotherapy (14.8%), radiotherapy (13.7%), and observation (13.7%). Challenges associated with cancer included psychosocial (33.2%), financial (18.8%), physical (6.6%), and spiritual (6.3%). Concerns about reporting a cancer experience to their employer included the desire to keep health information private (11.3%), a feeling of vulnerability (7.4%), and being perceived as weak (7.0%). Lack of support from their employer or insurer was also noted. Conclusion Female firefighters experienced a wide variety of different types of cancers which may come earlier than similar cancers in the public. These findings can help inform resource allocation, the development of new policies, and the need for broader presumptive coverage to support female firefighters diagnosed with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kate Turcotte
- BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Kate Turcotte,
| | - Samantha Pawer
- BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alex Zheng
- BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanat Purewal
- BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alyssa Wellar
- BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shazya Karmali
- BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Len Garis
- BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Culture, Media, and Society, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
| | | | - Ian Pike
- BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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15
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Arı A, Arı PE, İlhan SÖ, Gaga EO. Handheld two-stroke engines as an important source of personal VOC exposure for olive farm workers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:78711-78725. [PMID: 35699878 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21378-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Personal exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is mainly associated with indoor exposures; however, elevated short-term exposures may also occur during ambient activities. Handheld two-stroke gasoline-powered engines have widespread use in agriculture, but so far, no studies have been conducted on the potential health risks due to the inhalation of emitted VOCs. A one-week passive sampling has been conducted on olive farm workers during the harvesting season to monitor personal exposure levels to VOCs. The first group of workers was selected to represent the contribution of gasoline-powered shaker to daily personal VOC exposures, and one another group of workers was selected as the control, whose have not been using the device. Higher concentrations of 1-pentene, n-hexane, isopentane, n-pentene, and toluene were observed in personal samples collected from machine operators. Personal exposure concentrations of a total of 45 monitored VOCs varied between 29.2 ± 10.7 and 3733.4 ± 3300.1 µg m-3 among 20 volunteer workers. Estimated carcinogenic risks were between the acceptable levels of 10-4 and 10-6 for all workers. All individual chronic HQs and HIs (as the sum of individual HQs) were below the benchmark value of 1 for regular workers in 3 different sampling sites, whereas HI values in both acute (short term) and chronic exposure scenarios were exceeded 1 for shaker machine operators. This represented potential non-carcinogenic health hazards for exposed shaker operators, along with elevated VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akif Arı
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
| | - Pelin Ertürk Arı
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey
| | - Soner Özenç İlhan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Eskişehir Technical University, 26555, Eskişehir, Turkey
| | - Eftade O Gaga
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Eskişehir Technical University, 26555, Eskişehir, Turkey
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16
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Horn GP, Fent KW, Kerber S, Smith DL. Hierarchy of contamination control in the fire service: Review of exposure control options to reduce cancer risk. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2022; 19:538-557. [PMID: 35853136 PMCID: PMC9928012 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2022.2100406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The international fire service community is actively engaged in a wide range of activities focused on development, testing, and implementation of effective approaches to reduce exposure to contaminants and the related cancer risk. However, these activities are often viewed independent of each other and in the absence of the larger overall effort of occupational health risk mitigation. This narrative review synthesizes the current research on fire service contamination control in the context of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Hierarchy of Controls, a framework that supports decision making around implementing feasible and effective control solutions in occupational settings. Using this approach, we identify evidence-based measures that have been investigated and that can be implemented to protect firefighters during an emergency response, in the fire apparatus and at the fire station, and identify several knowledge gaps that remain. While a great deal of research and development has been focused on improving personal protective equipment for the various risks faced by the fire service, these measures are considered less effective. Administrative and engineering controls that can be used during and after the firefight have also received increased research interest in recent years. However, less research and development have been focused on higher level control measures such as engineering, substitution, and elimination, which may be the most effective, but are challenging to implement. A comprehensive approach that considers each level of control and how it can be implemented, and that is mindful of the need to balance contamination risk reduction against the fire service mission to save lives and protect property, is likely to be the most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin P Horn
- Fire Safety Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, Columbia, Maryland
- Illinois Fire Service Institute, Champaign, Illinois
| | - Kenneth W Fent
- National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Steve Kerber
- Fire Safety Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, Columbia, Maryland
| | - Denise L Smith
- Illinois Fire Service Institute, Champaign, Illinois
- Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York
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17
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Hwang J, Xu C, Grunsted P, Agnew RJ, Malone TR, Clifton S, Thompson K, Xu X. Urinary Metabolites of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Firefighters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:8475. [PMID: 35886320 PMCID: PMC9318785 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Firefighters are intermittently exposed to complex, mixed pollutants in random settings. Of those pollutants, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are the most commonly studied and best understood. PAH exposure can occur via multiple routes; therefore, the levels of hydroxylated metabolites of PAHs in urine have been used as a biomonitoring tool for risk assessment. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to estimate the levels of urinary hydroxylated PAH (OHPAH) among firefighters, determine risk attributions, and, finally, evaluate the scope of preventive efforts and their utility as diagnostic tools. The meta-regression confirmed increases in OHPAH concentrations after fire activities by up to 1.71-times (p-values: <0.0001). Samples collected at a time point of 2−4 h after a fire suppression showed a consistent, statistically significant pattern as compared with baseline samples. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 1582 Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments lists various health examinations, including a urinalysis for occupational chemical exposure if indicated and medical screening for cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Biomonitoring is a valuable screening tool for assessing occupational exposure and the results of this meta-analysis support their inclusion in regular health screenings for firefighters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jooyeon Hwang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Chao Xu
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (C.X.); (P.G.)
| | - Paul Grunsted
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (C.X.); (P.G.)
| | - Robert J. Agnew
- Fire Protection & Safety Engineering Technology Program, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
| | - Tara R. Malone
- Department of Health Sciences Library and Information Management, Graduate College, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (T.R.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Shari Clifton
- Department of Health Sciences Library and Information Management, Graduate College, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (T.R.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Krista Thompson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
| | - Xin Xu
- Shanghai Anti-Doping Laboratory, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China;
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18
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Horn GP, Madrzykowski D, Neumann DL, Mayer AC, Fent KW. Airborne contamination during post-fire investigations: Hot, warm and cold scenes. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2022; 19:35-49. [PMID: 34762010 PMCID: PMC10074475 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2021.2002343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Fire investigators may be occupationally exposed to many of the same compounds as the more widely studied fire suppression members of the fire service but are often tasked with working in a given exposure for longer periods ranging from hours to multiple days and may do so with limited personal protective equipment. In this study, we characterize the area air concentrations of contaminants during post-fire investigation of controlled residential fires with furnishings common to current bedroom, kitchen and living room fires in the United States. Area air sampling was conducted during different investigation phases including when investigations might be conducted immediately after fire suppression and extended out to 5 days after the fire. Airborne particulate over a wide range of dimensions, including sub-micron particles, were elevated to potentially unhealthy levels (based on air quality index) when averaged over a 60 min investigation period shortly after fire suppression with median PM2.5 levels over 100 µg/m3 (range 16-498 µg/m3) and median peak transient concentrations of 1,090 µg/m3 (range 200-23,700 µg/m3) during drywall removal or shoveling activities. Additionally, airborne aldehyde concentrations were elevated compared to volatile organic compounds with peak values of formaldehyde exceeding NIOSH ceiling limits during the earliest investigation periods (median 356 µg/m3, range: 140-775 µg/m3) and occasionally 1 day post-fire when the structure was boarded up before subsequent investigation activities. These results highlight the need to protect investigators' airways from particulates when fire investigation activities are conducted as well as during post-fire reconstruction activities. Additionally, vapor protection from formaldehyde should be strongly considered at least through investigations occurring 3 days after the fire and personal formaldehyde air monitoring is recommended during investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin P. Horn
- Fire Safety Research Institute, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Columbia, MD
| | - Daniel Madrzykowski
- Fire Safety Research Institute, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.; Columbia, MD
| | | | | | - Kenneth W. Fent
- National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health; Cincinnati, OH
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19
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Lucena MADM, Zapata F, Mauricio FGM, Ortega-Ojeda FE, Quintanilla-López MG, Weber IT, Montalvo G. Evaluation of an Ozone Chamber as a Routine Method to Decontaminate Firefighters' PPE. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10587. [PMID: 34682332 PMCID: PMC8536115 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Ozone chambers have emerged as an alternative method to decontaminate firefighters' Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from toxic fire residues. This work evaluated the efficiency of using an ozone chamber to clean firefighters' PPE. This was achieved by studying the degradation of pyrene and 9-methylanthracene polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The following experiments were performed: (i) insufflating ozone into PAH solutions (homogeneous setup), and (ii) exposing pieces of PPE impregnated with the PAHs to an ozone atmosphere for up to one hour (heterogeneous setup). The ozonolysis products were assessed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), and Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis. In the homogeneous experiments, compounds of a higher molecular weight were produced due to the incorporation of oxygen into the PAH structures. Some of these new compounds included 4-oxapyren-5-one (m/z 220) and phenanthrene-4,5-dicarboxaldehyde (m/z 234) from pyrene; or 9-anthracenecarboxaldehyde (m/z 207) and hydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione (m/z 225) from 9-methylanthracene. In the heterogeneous experiments, a lower oxidation was revealed, since no byproducts were detected using FTIR and TLC, but only using MS. However, in both experiments, significant amounts of the original PAHs were still present even after one hour of ozone treatment. Thus, although some partial chemical degradation was observed, the remaining PAH and the new oxygenated-PAH compounds (equally or more toxic than the initial molecules) alerted us of the risks to firefighters' health when using an ozone chamber as a unique decontamination method. These results do not prove the ozone-advertised efficiency of the ozone chambers for decontaminating (degrading the toxic combustion residues into innocuous compounds) firefighters' PPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella A. de Melo Lucena
- BSTR, Fundamental Chemistry Department, Federal University of Pernambuco-UFPE, Avenida Prof. Luiz Freire, S/N, CDU, Recife 50740-540, Brazil
| | - Félix Zapata
- Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación CINQUIFOR, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (F.Z.); (F.E.O.-O.)
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Fernando E. Ortega-Ojeda
- Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación CINQUIFOR, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (F.Z.); (F.E.O.-O.)
- Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Física y Matemáticas, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - M. Gloria Quintanilla-López
- Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Orgánica y Química Inorgánica, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain;
| | - Ingrid Távora Weber
- LIMA, Chemistry Institute, University of Brasilia-UNB, Brasilia 70904-970, Brazil; (F.G.M.M.); (I.T.W.)
| | - Gemma Montalvo
- Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación CINQUIFOR, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (F.Z.); (F.E.O.-O.)
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Classification of Critical Levels of CO Exposure of Firefigthers through Monitored Heart Rate. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21051561. [PMID: 33668116 PMCID: PMC7956572 DOI: 10.3390/s21051561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Smoke inhalation poses a serious health threat to firefighters (FFs), with potential effects including respiratory and cardiac disorders. In this work, environmental and physiological data were collected from FFs, during experimental fires performed in 2015 and 2019. Extending a previous work, which allowed us to conclude that changes in heart rate (HR) were associated with alterations in the inhalation of carbon monoxide (CO), we performed a HR analysis according to different levels of CO exposure during firefighting based on data collected from three FFs. Based on HR collected and on CO occupational exposure standards (OES), we propose a classifier to identify CO exposure levels through the HR measured values. An ensemble of 100 bagged classification trees was used and the classification of CO levels obtained an overall accuracy of 91.9%. The classification can be performed in real-time and can be embedded in a decision fire-fighting support system. This classification of FF’ exposure to critical CO levels, through minimally-invasive monitored HR, opens the possibility to identify hazardous situations, preventing and avoiding possible severe problems in FF’ health due to inhaled pollutants. The obtained results also show the importance of future studies on the relevance and influence of the exposure and inhalation of pollutants on the FF’ health, especially in what refers to hazardous levels of toxic air pollutants.
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Legacy and Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Analytical Techniques, Environmental Fate, and Health Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22030995. [PMID: 33498193 PMCID: PMC7863963 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22030995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their unique chemical properties, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used extensively as industrial surfactants and processing aids. While several types of PFAS have been voluntarily phased out by their manufacturers, these chemicals continue to be of ecological and public health concern due to their persistence in the environment and their presence in living organisms. Moreover, while the compounds referred to as “legacy” PFAS remain in the environment, alternative compounds have emerged as replacements for their legacy predecessors and are now detected in numerous matrices. In this review, we discuss the historical uses of PFAS, recent advances in analytical techniques for analysis of these compounds, and the fate of PFAS in the environment. In addition, we evaluate current biomonitoring studies of human exposure to legacy and emerging PFAS and examine the associations of PFAS exposure with human health impacts, including cancer- and non-cancer-related outcomes. Special focus is given to short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and ether-substituted, polyfluoroalkyl alternatives including hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA; tradename GenX), 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (DONA), and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroethersulfonic acid (6:2 Cl-PFESA; tradename F-53B).
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