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Reddam A, Herkert N, Stapleton HM, Volz DC. Silicone wristbands reveal ubiquitous human exposure to ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers in Southern California. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 258:119465. [PMID: 38908658 PMCID: PMC11323145 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
In the United States and abroad, ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers continue to be used within a diverse array of consumer products. Prior California-specific biomonitoring programs for ortho-phthalates have focused on rural, agricultural communities and, to our knowledge, these programs have not measured the potential for exposure to non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers. Therefore, the potential for human exposure to ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers have not been adequately addressed in regions of California that have higher population density. Since there are numerous sources of ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers in population-dense, urban regions, the objective of this study was to leverage silicone wristbands to quantify aggregate ortho-phthalate and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer exposure over a 5-day period across two different cohorts (2019 and 2020) of undergraduate students at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) that commute from all over Southern California. Based on 5 d of aggregate exposure across two different cohorts, total ortho-phthalate plus non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer concentrations ranged, on average, from ∼100,000-1,000,000 ng/g. Based on the distribution of individual ortho-phthalate and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer concentrations, the concentrations of di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP, a high molecular weight ortho-phthalate), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, a high molecular weight ortho-phthalate), and di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHT, a non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer) detected within wristbands were higher than the remaining seven ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers measured, accounting for approximately 94-97% of the total mass depending on the cohort. Overall, our findings raise concerns about chronic DiNP, DEHP, and DEHT exposure in urban, population-dense regions throughout California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aalekhya Reddam
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas Herkert
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - David C Volz
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
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Herkert NJ, Getzinger GJ, Hoffman K, Young AS, Allen JG, Levasseur JL, Ferguson PL, Stapleton HM. Wristband Personal Passive Samplers and Suspect Screening Methods Highlight Gender Disparities in Chemical Exposures. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39171898 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c06008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Wristband personal samplers enable human exposure assessments for a diverse range of chemical contaminants and exposure settings with a previously unattainable scale and cost-effectiveness. Paired with nontargeted analyses, wristbands can provide important exposure monitoring data to expand our understanding of the environmental exposome. Here, a custom scripted suspect screening workflow was developed in the R programming language for feature selection and chemical annotations using gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry data acquired from the analysis of wristband samples collected from five different cohorts. The workflow includes blank subtraction, internal standard normalization, prediction of chemical uses in products, and feature annotation using multiple library search metrics and metadata from PubChem, among other functionalities. The workflow was developed and validated against 104 analytes identified by targeted analytical results in previously published reports of wristbands. A true positive rate of 62 and 48% in a quality control matrix and wristband samples, respectively, was observed for our optimum set of parameters. Feature analysis identified 458 features that were significantly higher on female-worn wristbands and only 21 features that were significantly higher on male-worn wristbands across all cohorts. Tentative identifications suggest that personal care products are a primary driver of the differences observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Herkert
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Gordon J Getzinger
- School of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60660, United States
| | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Anna S Young
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Joseph G Allen
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Jessica L Levasseur
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - P Lee Ferguson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
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Baker BH, Day DB, Hazlehurst MF, Herkert NJ, Stapleton HM, Sathyanarayana S. Associations of environmental chemical exposures measured in personal silicone wristbands with sociodemographic factors, COVID-19 restrictions, and child respiratory health. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 262:119776. [PMID: 39142453 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although human biomonitoring of environmental chemicals has been considered a gold standard, these methods can be costly, burdensome, and prone to unwanted sources of variability that may cause confounding. Silicone wristbands have recently emerged as innovative passive samplers for measuring personal exposures. METHODS In a pilot study from 2019 to 2021 involving 55 children aged 5-9 years in Seattle and Yakima, Washington, we utilized silicone wristbands to explore associations of sociodemographic variables and COVID-19-related restrictions, including school closures, with exposures to numerous chemicals including brominated and organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, and pesticides. We additionally conducted the first analysis testing silicone wristband chemicals as predictors of child wheeze, individually and in mixtures via logistic weighted quantile sum regression (WQS). RESULTS Among 109 semi-volatile organic compounds measured, we detected 40 in >60% of wristbands worn by children continuously for an average of 5 days. Chemicals were generally positively correlated, especially within the same class. Male sex and increasing age were linked with higher exposures across several chemical classes; Hispanic/Latino ethnicity was linked with higher exposures to some phthalates and OPEs. COVID-19 restrictions were associated with lower wristband concentrations of brominated and triaryl OPE flame retardants. Each one-decile higher WQS exposure index was suggestively associated with 2.11-fold [95% CI: 0.93-4.80] higher odds of child wheeze. Risk of child wheeze was higher per 10-fold increase in the PAH chrysene (RR = 1.93[1.07-3.49]), the pesticide cis-permethrin (3.31[1.23-8.91]), and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) (5.40[1.22-24.0]) CONCLUSIONS: Our identification of demographic factors including sex, age, and ethnicity associated with chemical exposures may aid efforts to mitigate exposure disparities. Lower exposures to flame retardants during pandemic restrictions corroborates prior evidence of higher levels of these chemicals in school versus home environments. Future research in larger cohorts is needed to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brennan H Baker
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Drew B Day
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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4
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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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Li Y, Lv Y, Jiang Z, Ma C, Li R, Zhao M, Guo Y, Guo H, Zhang X, Li A, Liu Y. Association of co-exposure to organophosphate esters and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and mixture with cardiovascular-kidney-liver-metabolic biomarkers among Chinese adults. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 280:116524. [PMID: 38838464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116524] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organophosphate esters (OPEs) and Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants with common exposure sources, leading to their widespread presence in human body. However, evidence on co-exposure to OPEs and PFAS and its impact on cardiovascular-kidney-liver-metabolic biomarkers remains limited. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 467 adults were enrolled from January to May 2022 during physical visits in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. Eleven types of OPEs and twelves types of PFAS were detected, among which eight OPEs and six PFAS contaminants were detected in more than 60% of plasma samples. Seventeen biomarkers were assessed to comprehensively evaluate the cardiovascular-kidney-liver-metabolic function. Multiple linear regression, multipollutant models with sparse partial least squares, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to examine the associations of individual OPEs and PFAS and their mixtures with organ function and metabolism, respectively. RESULTS Of the over 400 exposure-outcome associations tested when modelling, we observed robust results across three models that perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxS) was significantly positively associated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), and indirect bilirubin (IBIL). Perfluorononanoic acid was significantly associated with decreased AST/ALT and increased very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Besides, perfluorodecanoic acid was correlated with increased high lipoprotein cholesterol and perfluoroundecanoic acid was consistently associated with lower glucose level. BKMR analysis showed that OPEs and PFAS mixtures were positively associated with IBIL and TBIL, among which PFHxS was the main toxic chemicals. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that exposure to OPEs and PFAS, especially PFHxS and PFNA, may disrupt organ function and metabolism in the general population, providing insight into the potential pathophysiological mechanisms of OPEs and PFAS co-exposure and chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbing Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China
| | - Yi Lv
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Zexuan Jiang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Chaoying Ma
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Ran Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Mengwei Zhao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Huicai Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Xiaoguang Zhang
- Core Facilities and Centers of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, PR China.
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, PR China.
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Frederiksen M, Jensen SP, Andersen MHG, Vogel U, Saber AT. Online SPE-LC-MS-MS method for eight hydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine and determination of optimal sampling time after firefighter training. Toxicol Lett 2024; 400:9-15. [PMID: 38977139 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2024.07.005] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) are formed during incomplete combustion and firefighters are inadvertently at risk of being exposed to these and other hazardous compounds. Exposure to PAHs is often estimated by measuring their hydroxylated metabolites (OH-PAH) in urine. Here, an online-SPE LC-MS-MS method was set up for eight OH-PAHs thus increasing sample throughput and minimizing manual handling. The method was validated over a 5-month period and showed good reproducibility with intra- and inter-day variation of 2.4-8.1 % and 1.6-6.5 %, respectively, of low-level samples and accuracy (91.6-104.8 %) for a standard reference material. The method was applied to urine samples from conscripts training to become firefighters to determine the optimal sampling time for this training activity before a large intervention study. In total, six conscripts sampled urine 6-8 times over a 40-hr period during a 3-day training course. All eight metabolites were detected in ≥ 97 % of the samples and showed peak excretion 4-6 hrs after the training corresponding to 8-10 hrs after first exposure. Samples taken the morning after the exercise contained low levels of most metabolites. Consequently, 4-6 hrs post exposure is recommended as the optimal sampling time for quantification of PAH exposure and monitoring of potential differences in exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Frederiksen
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark.
| | - Simon Pelle Jensen
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | | | - Ulla Vogel
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark; DTU Food, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Anne Thoustrup Saber
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
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7
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Bakali U, Baum JLR, Louzado-Feliciano P, Killawala C, Santiago KM, Pauley JL, Dikici E, Schaefer Solle N, Kobetz EN, Bachas LG, Deo SK, Caban-Martinez AJ, Daunert S. Characterization of fire investigators' polyaromatic hydrocarbon exposures using silicone wristbands. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 278:116349. [PMID: 38714081 PMCID: PMC11215797 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposures to polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contribute to cancer in the fire service. Fire investigators are involved in evaluations of post-fire scenes. In the US, it is estimated that there are up to 9000 fire investigators, compared to approximately 1.1 million total firefighting personnel. This exploratory study contributes initial evidence of PAH exposures sustained by this understudied group using worn silicone passive samplers. OBJECTIVES Evaluate PAH exposures sustained by fire investigators at post-fire scenes using worn silicone passive samplers. Assess explanatory factors and health risks of PAH exposure at post-fire scenes. METHODS As part of a cross-sectional study design, silicone wristbands were distributed to 16 North Carolina fire investigators, including eight public, seven private, and one public and private. Wristbands were worn during 46 post-fire scene investigations. Fire investigators completed pre- and post-surveys providing sociodemographic, occupational, and post-fire scene characteristics. Solvent extracts from wristbands were analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results were used to estimate vapor-phase PAH concentration in the air at post-fire scenes. RESULTS Fire investigations lasted an average of 148 minutes, standard deviation ± 93 minutes. A significant positive correlation (r=0.455, p<.001) was found between investigation duration and PAH concentrations on wristbands. Significantly greater time-normalized PAH exposures (p=0.039) were observed for investigations of newer post-fire scenes compared to older post-fire scenes. Regulatory airborne PAH exposure limits were exceeded in six investigations, based on exposure to estimated vapor-phase PAH concentrations in the air at post-fire scenes. DISCUSSION Higher levels of off-gassing and suspended particulates at younger post-fire scenes may explain greater PAH exposure. Weaker correlations are found between wristband PAH concentration and investigation duration at older post-fire scenes, suggesting reduction of off-gassing PAHs over time. Exceedances of regulatory PAH limits indicate a need for protection against vapor-phase contaminants, especially at more recent post-fire scenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umer Bakali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jeramy L R Baum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Paola Louzado-Feliciano
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Chitvan Killawala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Katerina M Santiago
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Pauley
- International Association of Arson Investigators, Bowie, MD, USA
| | - Emre Dikici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute of the University of Miami (BioNIUM), Miami, FL, USA
| | - Natasha Schaefer Solle
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Medicine, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Erin N Kobetz
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Medicine, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Leonidas G Bachas
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Sapna K Deo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute of the University of Miami (BioNIUM), Miami, FL, USA
| | - Alberto J Caban-Martinez
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Sylvia Daunert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA; Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute of the University of Miami (BioNIUM), Miami, FL, USA
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8
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Burdette T, Yakimavets V, Panuwet P, Ryan PB, Barr DB, Salamova A. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in senior care facilities and older adult residents. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172316. [PMID: 38593875 PMCID: PMC11075449 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are fluorinated organic compounds used in a variety of consumer products and industrial applications that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in biological tissues, and can have adverse effects on human health, especially in vulnerable populations. In this study, we focused on PFAS exposures in residents of senior care facilities. To investigate relationships between indoor, personal, and internal PFAS exposures, we analyzed 19 PFAS in matched samples of dust collected from the residents' bedrooms, and wristbands and serum collected from the residents. The median ∑PFAS concentrations (the sum of all PFAS detected in the samples) measured in dust, wristbands, and serum were 120 ng/g, 0.05 ng/g, and 4.0 ng/mL, respectively. The most abundant compounds in serum were linear- and branched-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (L-PFOS and B-PFOS, respectively) at medians of 1.7 ng/mL and 0.83 ng/mL, respectively, followed by the linear perfluorooctanoic acid (L-PFOA) found at a median concentration of 0.59 ng/mL. Overall, these three PFAS comprised 80 % of the serum ∑PFAS concentrations. A similar pattern was observed in dust with L-PFOS and L-PFOA found as the most abundant PFAS (median concentrations of 13 and 7.8 ng/g, respectively), with the overall contribution of 50 % to the ∑PFAS concentration. Only L-PFOA was found in wristbands at a median concentration of 0.02 ng/g. Significant correlations were found between the concentrations of several PFAS in dust and serum, and in dust and wristbands, suggesting that the indoor environment could be a significant contributor to the personal and internal PFAS exposures in seniors. Our findings demonstrate that residents of assisted living facilities are widely exposed to PFAS, with several PFAS found in blood of each study participant and in the assisted living environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tret Burdette
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Volha Yakimavets
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Parinya Panuwet
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - P Barry Ryan
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Dana B Barr
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Amina Salamova
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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9
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Yin S, den Ouden F, Cleys P, Klimowska A, Bombeke J, Poma G, Covaci A. Personal environmental exposure to plasticizers and organophosphate flame retardants using silicone wristbands and urine: Patterns, comparisons, and correlations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172187. [PMID: 38582107 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172187] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Plasticizers (PLs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are ubiquitous in the environment due to their widespread use and potential for leaching from consumer products. Environmental exposure is a critical aspect of the human exposome, revealing complex interactions between environmental contaminants and potential health effects. Silicone wristbands (SWBs) have emerged as a novel and non-invasive sampling device for assessing personal external exposure. In this study, SWBs were used as a proxy to estimate personal dermal adsorption (EDdermal) to PLs and OPFRs in Belgian participants for one week; four morning urine samples were also collected and analyzed for estimated daily intake (EDI). The results of the SWBs samples showed that all the participants were exposed to these chemicals, and the exposure was found to be highest for the legacy and alternative plasticizers (LP and AP), followed by the legacy and emerging OPFRs (LOPFR and EOPFR). In urine samples, the highest levels were observed for metabolites of diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) among LPs and di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT) for APs. Outliers among the participants indicated that there were other sources of exposure that were not identified. Results showed a significant correlation between EDdermal and EDI for DiBP, tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). These correlations indicated their suitability for predicting exposure via SWB monitoring for total chemical exposure. The results of this pilot study advance our understanding of SWB sampling and its relevance for predicting aggregate environmental chemical exposures, while highlighting the potential of SWBs as low-cost, non-invasive personal samplers for future research. This innovative approach has the potential to advance the assessment of environmental exposures and their impact on public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Yin
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Fatima den Ouden
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Paulien Cleys
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Anna Klimowska
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jasper Bombeke
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
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10
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Samon SM, Hoffman K, Herkert N, Stapleton HM. Chemical uptake into silicone wristbands over a five day period. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123877. [PMID: 38574945 PMCID: PMC11080408 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Silicone wristbands are a noninvasive personal exposure assessment tool. However, despite their utility, questions remain about the rate at which chemicals accumulate on wristbands when worn, as validation studies utilizing wristbands worn by human participants are limited. This study evaluated the chemical uptake rates of 113 organic pollutants from several chemical classes (i.e., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), organophosphate esters (OPEs), alkyl OPEs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), brominated flame retardants (BFR), phthalates, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) over a five-day period. Adult participants (n = 10) were asked to wear five silicone wristbands and then remove one wristband each day. Several compounds were detected in all participants' wristbands after only one day. The number of chemicals detected frequently (i.e. in at least seven participants wristbands) increased from 20% of target compounds to 26% after three days and more substantially increased to 34% of target compounds after four days of wear. Chemicals detected in at least seven participants' day five wristbands (n = 24 chemicals) underwent further statistical analysis, including estimating the chemical uptake rates over time. Some chemicals, including pesticides and phthalates, had postive and significant correlations between concentrations on wristbands worn five days and concentrations of wristbands worn fewer days suggesting chronic exposure. For 23 of the 24 compounds evaluated there was a statistically significant and positive linear association between the length of time wristbands were worn and chemical concentrations in wristbands. Despite the differences that exist between laboratory studies using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) environmental samplers and worn wristbands, these results indicate that worn wristbands are primarily acting as first-order kinetic samplers. These results suggest that studies using different deployment lengths should be comparable when results are normalized to the length of the deployment period. In addition, a shorter deployment period could be utilized for compounds that were commonly detected in as little as one day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Samon
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nicholas Herkert
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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11
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Schlezinger JJ, Gokce N. Perfluoroalkyl/Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Links to Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Circ Res 2024; 134:1136-1159. [PMID: 38662859 PMCID: PMC11047059 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.323697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Conservative estimates by the World Health Organization suggest that at least a quarter of global cardiovascular diseases are attributable to environmental exposures. Associations between air pollution and cardiovascular risk have garnered the most headlines and are strong, but less attention has been paid to other omnipresent toxicants in our ecosystem. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are man-made chemicals that are extensively used in industrial and consumer products worldwide and in aqueous film-forming foam utilized in firefighting. As such, our exposure to PFAS is essentially ubiquitous. Given the long half-lives of these degradation-resistant chemicals, virtually, all people are carrying a body burden of PFAS. Health concerns related to PFAS are growing such that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has recommended standards for clinical follow-up of individuals with high PFAS blood levels, including prioritizing screening for dyslipidemia. The link between PFAS and dyslipidemia has been extensively investigated, and evidence for associations is compelling. However, dyslipidemia is not the only cardiovascular risk factor with which PFAS is associated. Here, we review the epidemiological evidence for links between PFAS of concern identified by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including overweight/obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia. Moreover, we review the potential connections of PFAS with vascular disease and atherosclerosis. While observational data support associations between the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine PFAS and selected cardiac risk factors, additional research is needed to establish causation and better understand how exposure to PFAS leads to the development of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noyan Gokce
- Evans Department of Medicine and Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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12
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Hammel SC, Frederiksen M. Quantifying 209 Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners in Silicone Wristbands to Evaluate Differences in Exposure among Demolition Workers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6499-6508. [PMID: 38572580 PMCID: PMC11025118 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
A social housing estate in Denmark was designated for demolition due to exceedance of guidance values for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in indoor air. Here, we deployed precleaned silicone wristbands (n = 46) among demolition workers of these contaminated buildings during single workdays while conducting various work tasks. We established a method to analyze all 209 PCBs in wristbands to identify prominent congeners of exposure and evaluate differences between tasks. Wristbands were extracted using microwave-assisted extraction and then concentrated for gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis. Twenty-nine chromatographic peaks representing 37 congeners were detected in every wristband, and tetra-CBs were the dominant homologue group. PCB-66, -44, and -70 were the most abundant congeners measured in worker wristbands, none of which are included within the typical seven indicator or WHO 12 PCBs. Workers who cut PCB-containing sealants had wristbands with the highest PCB concentrations (geometric mean ∑209PCBs = 1963 ng/g wristband), which were followed by those handling concrete elements on the building roof. Additionally, wristbands captured a broader range of PCBs than has been previously measured in air and serum samples. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of total congener analysis in assessing current PCB exposure in demolition work and the utility of wristbands for assessing these exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C. Hammel
- National Research Centre
for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Marie Frederiksen
- National Research Centre
for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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13
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Lin Y, Wang X, Chen R, Weil T, Ge Y, Stapleton HM, Bergin MH, Zhang J(J. Arachidonic Acid Metabolites in Self-collected Biospecimens Following Campfire Exposure: Exploring Non-invasive Biomarkers of Wildfire Health Effects. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2024; 11:201-207. [PMID: 38828437 PMCID: PMC11144521 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Climate change has contributed to increased frequency and intensity of wildfire. Studying its acute effects is limited due to unpredictable nature of wildfire occurrence, which necessitates readily deployable techniques to collect biospecimens. To identify biomarkers of wildfire's acute effects, we conducted this exploratory study in eight healthy campers (four men and four women) who self-collected nasal fluid, urine, saliva, and skin wipes at different time points before, during, and after 4-hour exposure to wood smoke in a camping event. Concentrations of black carbon in the air and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in participants' silicone wristbands were significantly elevated during the exposure session. Among 30 arachidonic acid metabolites measured, lipoxygenase metabolites were more abundant in nasal fluid and saliva, whereas cyclooxygenase and non-enzymatic metabolites were more abundant in urine. We observed drastic increases, at 8 hours following the exposure, in urinary levels of PGE2 (398%) and 15-keto-PGF2α (191%) (FDR<10%), with greater increases in men (FDR < 0.01%) than in women. No significant changes were observed for other metabolites in urine or the other biospecimens. Our results suggest urinary PGE2 and 15-keto-PGF2α as promising biomarkers reflecting pathophysiologic (likely sex-dependent) changes induced by short-term exposure to wildfire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Xiangtian Wang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Ruoxue Chen
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Tenley Weil
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Yihui Ge
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Heather M. Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Michael H. Bergin
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Junfeng (Jim) Zhang
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
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14
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Park S, Kim HS, Oh HJ, Chung I, Ahn YS, Jeong KS. Assessment of phthalate exposure at a fire site in Korean firefighters. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 34:1800-1809. [PMID: 37584337 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2246388] [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: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
To determine phthalate exposure in 32 firefighters, the concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolites, immediately (exposure day) and three weeks (control day) after fire suppression, were compared. Mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-n-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), and total phthalates (∑phthalates) levels, and creatinine-adjusted levels of MBP, MBzP, and ∑phthalates were significantly higher on exposure day than on control day. Phthalate concentration was significantly higher in firefighters who performed the fire extinguishing tasks (geometric mean [GM], 149.9 μg/L) than in those who performed other tasks (GM 70.8 μg/L) (p = .012). The GM concentration of firefighters who were active ≤ 50 m from the fire was 119.0 μg/L, and 37.6 μg/L for those who were > 50 m away (p = .012). The GM concentration was significantly different (p = .039) in firefighters with subjective symptoms after fire suppression (151.9 μg/L) compared to those without symptoms (81.6 μg/L). This study showed that firefighters were exposed to phthalate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyoung Park
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Total Healthcare Centre, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Soo Kim
- Industrial Health and Work Environment Research Institute, Korean Industrial Health Association, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jeong Oh
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Insung Chung
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon-Soon Ahn
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Wonju College of medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Sook Jeong
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju, Republic of Korea
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15
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Nematollahi AJ, Fisher JM, Furlong MA, Beamer PI, Goodrich JM, Graber JM, Calafat AM, Botelho JC, Beitel SC, Littau SR, Gulotta JJ, Wallentine DD, Burgess JL. Comparison of Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Concentrations in Incumbent and Recruit Firefighters and Longitudinal Assessment in Recruits. J Occup Environ Med 2024; 66:202-211. [PMID: 38013397 PMCID: PMC10916718 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000003020] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Firefighters are occupationally exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This study objective was to compare serum PFAS concentrations in incumbent and recruit firefighters and evaluate temporal trends among recruits. METHODS Serum PFAS concentrations were measured in 99 incumbent and 55 recruit firefighters at enrollment in 2015-2016, with follow-up 20 to 37 months later for recruits. Linear and logistic regression and linear mixed-effects models were used for analyses. Fireground exposure impact on PFAS concentrations was investigated using adjusted linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS Incumbents had lower n-PFOA and PFNA than recruits and most PFAS significantly decreased over time among male recruits. No significant links were found between cumulative fireground exposures and PFAS concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Serum PFAS concentrations were not increased in incumbent firefighters compared with recruits and were not associated with cumulative fireground exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J. Nematollahi
- Environmental Health Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Julia M. Fisher
- BIO5 Institute, Statistics Consulting Laboratory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Melissa A. Furlong
- Environmental Health Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Paloma I. Beamer
- Environmental Health Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Judith M. Graber
- School of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Julianne Cook Botelho
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Shawn C. Beitel
- Environmental Health Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Sally R. Littau
- Environmental Health Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | | | - Jefferey L. Burgess
- Environmental Health Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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16
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Quaid M, Goodrich JM, Calkins MM, Graber JM, Urwin D, Gabriel J, Caban-Martinez AJ, Petroff RL, Grant C, Beitel SC, Littau S, Gulotta JJ, Wallentine D, Hughes J, Burgess JL. Firefighting, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and DNA methylation of genes associated with prostate cancer risk. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2024; 65:55-66. [PMID: 38523457 PMCID: PMC11006564 DOI: 10.1002/em.22589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the leading incident cancer among men in the United States. Firefighters are diagnosed with this disease at a rate 1.21 times higher than the average population. This increased risk may result from occupational exposures to many toxicants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This study assessed the association between firefighting as an occupation in general or PFAS serum levels, with DNA methylation. Only genomic regions previously linked to prostate cancer risk were selected for analysis: GSTP1, Alu repetitive elements, and the 8q24 chromosomal region. There were 444 male firefighters included in this study, with some analyses being conducted on fewer participants due to missingness. Statistical models were used to test associations between exposures and DNA methylation at CpG sites in the selected genomic regions. Exposure variables included proxies of cumulative firefighting exposures (incumbent versus academy status and years of firefighting experience) and biomarkers of PFAS exposures (serum concentrations of 9 PFAS). Proxies of cumulative exposures were associated with DNA methylation at 15 CpG sites and one region located within FAM83A (q-value <0.1). SbPFOA was associated with 19 CpG sites (q < 0.1), but due to low detection rates, this PFAS was modeled as detected versus not detected in serum. Overall, there is evidence that firefighting experience is associated with differential DNA methylation in prostate cancer risk loci, but this study did not find evidence that these differences are due to PFAS exposures specifically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Quaid
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Miriam M. Calkins
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Judith M. Graber
- Dept of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Derek Urwin
- Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jamie Gabriel
- Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Rebekah L. Petroff
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Casey Grant
- Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy, MA, USA
| | - Shawn C. Beitel
- Dept. of Community, Environment and Policy, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Sally Littau
- Dept. of Community, Environment and Policy, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | | | - Jeff Hughes
- Orange County Fire Authority, Irvine, CA, USA
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17
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Bramer LM, Dixon HM, Degnan DJ, Rohlman D, Herbstman JB, Anderson KA, Waters KM. Expanding the access of wearable silicone wristbands in community-engaged research through best practices in data analysis and integration. PACIFIC SYMPOSIUM ON BIOCOMPUTING. PACIFIC SYMPOSIUM ON BIOCOMPUTING 2024; 29:170-186. [PMID: 38160278 PMCID: PMC10766083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Wearable silicone wristbands are a rapidly growing exposure assessment technology that offer researchers the ability to study previously inaccessible cohorts and have the potential to provide a more comprehensive picture of chemical exposure within diverse communities. However, there are no established best practices for analyzing the data within a study or across multiple studies, thereby limiting impact and access of these data for larger meta-analyses. We utilize data from three studies, from over 600 wristbands worn by participants in New York City and Eugene, Oregon, to present a first-of-its-kind manuscript detailing wristband data properties. We further discuss and provide concrete examples of key areas and considerations in common statistical modeling methods where best practices must be established to enable meta-analyses and integration of data from multiple studies. Finally, we detail important and challenging aspects of machine learning, meta-analysis, and data integration that researchers will face in order to extend beyond the limited scope of individual studies focused on specific populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Bramer
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd Richland, WA 99354, United States,
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18
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Keir JLA, Papas W, Wawrzynczak A, Aranda-Rodriguez R, Blais JM, White PA. Use of silicone wristbands to measure firefighters' exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during live fire training. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:117306. [PMID: 37797669 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117306] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Firefighters experience exposures to carcinogenic and mutagenic substances, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Silicone wristbands (SWBs) have been used as passive samplers to assess firefighters' exposures over the course of a shift but their utility in measuring short term exposures, source of exposure, and correlations with other measurements of exposure have not yet been investigated. In this study, SWBs were used to measure the concentrations of 16 priority PAHs inside and outside of firefighters' personal protective equipment (PPE) while firefighting. SWBs were placed on the wrist and jacket of 20 firefighters conducting live fire training. Correlations were made with matching data from a sister project that measured urinary concentrations of PAH metabolites and PAH concentrations from personal air samples from the same participants. Naphthalene, acenaphthylene and phenanthrene had the highest geometric mean concentrations in both jacket and wrist SWB, with 1040, 320, 180 ng/g SWB for jacket and 55.0, 4.9, and 6.0 ng/g SWB for wrist, respectively. Ratios of concentrations between the jacket and wrist SWBs were calculated as worker protection factors (WPFs) and averaged 40.1 for total PAHs and ranged from 2.8 to 214 for individual PAHs, similar to previous studies. Several significant correlations were observed between PAHs in jacket SWBs and air samples (e.g., total and low molecular weight PAHs, r = 0.55 and 0.59, p < 0.05, respectively). A few correlations were found between PAHs from SWBs worn on the wrist and jacket, and urinary concentrations of PAH metabolites and PAH concentrations in air samples. The ability of the SWBs to accurately capture exposures to various PAHs was likely influenced by short sampling time, high temperatures, and high turbulence. Future work should further examine the limitations of SWBs for PAH exposures in firefighting, and other extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L A Keir
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada; Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - William Papas
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Adam Wawrzynczak
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Rocio Aranda-Rodriguez
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Jules M Blais
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Paul A White
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada; Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
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19
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Bramer LM, Dixon HM, Degnan DJ, Rohlman D, Herbstman JB, Anderson KA, Waters KM. Expanding the access of wearable silicone wristbands in community-engaged research through best practices in data analysis and integration. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.560217. [PMID: 37873084 PMCID: PMC10592864 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Wearable silicone wristbands are a rapidly growing exposure assessment technology that offer researchers the ability to study previously inaccessible cohorts and have the potential to provide a more comprehensive picture of chemical exposure within diverse communities. However, there are no established best practices for analyzing the data within a study or across multiple studies, thereby limiting impact and access of these data for larger meta-analyses. We utilize data from three studies, from over 600 wristbands worn by participants in New York City and Eugene, Oregon, to present a first-of-its-kind manuscript detailing wristband data properties. We further discuss and provide concrete examples of key areas and considerations in common statistical modeling methods where best practices must be established to enable meta-analyses and integration of data from multiple studies. Finally, we detail important and challenging aspects of machine learning, meta-analysis, and data integration that researchers will face in order to extend beyond the limited scope of individual studies focused on specific populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Bramer
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - Holly M Dixon
- Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - David J Degnan
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - Diana Rohlman
- College of Health, Oregon State University, 103 SW Memorial Place, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Julie B Herbstman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York City, NY 10032, United States
| | - Kim A Anderson
- Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Katrina M Waters
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd Richland, WA 99354, United States
- Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
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20
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Samon S, Herkert N, Ghassabian A, Liu H, Hammel SC, Trasande L, Stapleton HM, Hoffman K. Measuring semi-volatile organic compound exposures during pregnancy using silicone wristbands. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 339:139778. [PMID: 37567263 PMCID: PMC10552498 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Silicone wristbands were utilized as personal passive samplers in a sub-cohort of 92 women, who participated in New York University Children's Health and Environment Study, to assess exposure to semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Wristbands were analyzed for 77 SVOCs, including halogenated and non-halogenated organophosphate esters (OPEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, phthalates, and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) (e.g. polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)). This study aimed to look for patterns in chemical exposure utilizing participant demographics gathered from a questionnaire, and chemical exposure data across multiple timepoints during pregnancy. Analysis focused on 27 compounds detected in at least 80% of the wristbands examined. The chemicals detected most frequently included two pesticides, eight phthalates, one phthalate alternative, seven BFRs, and nine OPEs, including isopropylated and tert-butylated triarylphosphate esters (ITPs and TBPPs). Co-exposure to different SVOCs was most prominent in compounds that were within the same chemical class or were used in similar consumer applications such as phthalates and OPEs, which are often used as plasticizers. Pre-pregnancy BMI was positively associated with multiple compounds, and there were both positive and negative associations between women's parity and SVOC exposure. Outdoor temperature was not correlated with the wristband concentrations over a five-day sampling period. Lastly, significant and moderately high Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) (0.66-0.84) values for phthalate measurementsacross pregnancy indicate chronic exposure and suggest that using wristbands during one sampling period may reliably predict exposure. However, multiple sampling periods may be necessary to accurately determine indoor exposure to other SVOCs including OPEs and BFRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Samon
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nicholas Herkert
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Hongxiu Liu
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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21
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Everaert S, Schoeters G, Claes K, Raquez JM, Buffel B, Vanhaecke T, Moens J, Laitinen J, Van Larebeke N, Godderis L. Balancing Acute and Chronic Occupational Risks: The Use of Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Undergloves by Firefighters to Reduce Exposure to Toxic Contaminants. TOXICS 2023; 11:534. [PMID: 37368634 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11060534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Firefighters are exposed via multi-route exposure to a multitude of chemicals (PAHs, VOCs, flame retardants, dioxins, etc.) that may cause acute and long-term health effects. The dermal absorption of contaminants is a major contributor to the overall exposure and can be reduced by wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. As leather firefighters' gloves cannot be decontaminated regularly by wet cleaning, many Belgian firefighters wear supplementary undergloves made of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) to protect against the accumulation of toxicants. However, the safety of this practice has been questioned. In this commentary, the current practice and risks are outlined for the first time, assessed by an interdisciplinary working group of the Belgian Superior Health Council. As NBR sticks to the skin more at high temperatures, the contact time on removal will be prolonged, posing an additional risk for deeper burns. However, based on the physicochemical properties of NBR and the existing experience of firefighters and burn centers, it is estimated that such incidents occur relatively rarely in practice. On the other hand, the risk of repeated exposure to contaminated gloves if no undergloves are worn is unacceptable. Despite the slightly increased risk for deeper burns, it is concluded that wearing disposable NBR gloves under regular firefighters' gloves is an appropriate and effective preventive measure against toxic contamination. The nitrile butadiene rubber must always be fully covered to avoid any contact with the heat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn Everaert
- Chemical Environmental Factors Group, Superior Health Council, 1060 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Karel Claes
- Burn Center & Department of Plastic Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jean-Marie Raquez
- Polymer and Composite Materials Department, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Bart Buffel
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, 8200 Bruges, Belgium
| | - Tamara Vanhaecke
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jonas Moens
- Belgian Poison Centre, 1120 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Juha Laitinen
- Pelastusopisto, Emergency Services Academy Finland, 70821 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Department of Radiotherapy and Experimental Cancerology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lode Godderis
- Center for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
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22
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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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23
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Frederiksen M, Andersen HV, Ovesen SL, Vorkamp K, Hammel SC, Knudsen LE. Silicone wristbands as personal passive samplers of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in contaminated buildings. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107397. [PMID: 35933843 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107397] [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: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used in a number of industrial products from 1950 to 80s, including building materials. As a result, some buildings exhibit high levels of PCBs in the indoor environment. The aim of this study was to test silicone wristbands as a method for estimating personal exposure to PCBs in buildings both in controlled experiments and field settings. In the controlled study, the sampling kinetics of silicone wristbands were investigated in a 31-day uptake study. The field study focused on the application of wristbands as a personal exposure measure. It included 71 persons in a contaminated housing estate and 23 persons in a reference group. The linear uptake of PCBs ranged from 2 to 24 days for PCB-8, 18, 28, 31, 40, 44, 49, 52, 66, 99, and 101 under controlled conditions. A generic sampling rate (Rk) of 2.3 m3 d-1 corresponding to a mass transfer coefficient of 17 m h-1 was found in the controlled kinetic study. Partitioning coefficients were also determined for the nine congeners. In the field study, an apparent generic field sampling rate (Rf) of 2.6 m3 d-1 was found; when adjusted to reported hours exposed, it increased to 3.5 m3 d-1. The wristbands were shown to be a good tool for predicting airborne exposure, as there was a highly significant difference between the exposed and reference group as well as a clear trend when used for ranking of exposure. In correlation analyses, highly significant correlations were observed between air and wristband levels, though adjusting by self-reported exposure time only increased the correlation marginally in the field study. The obtained kinetic data can be used for estimating the magnitude of external exposure. The advantages provided by the wristbands in the form of easy use and handling are significant, though the limitations should also be acknowledged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Frederiksen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Helle Vibeke Andersen
- Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, A.C. Meyers Vænge 15, 2400 Copenhagen SV, Denmark
| | - Sofie Lillelund Ovesen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Katrin Vorkamp
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Stephanie C Hammel
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth E Knudsen
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark
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24
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Burgess JL, Fisher JM, Nematollahi A, Jung AM, Calkins MM, Graber JM, Grant CC, Beitel SC, Littau SR, Gulotta JJ, Wallentine DD, Hughes RJ, Popp C, Calafat AM, Botelho JC, Coleman AD, Schaefer-Solle N, Louzado-Feliciano P, Oduwole SO, Caban-Martinez AJ. Serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in four municipal US fire departments. Am J Ind Med 2022; 66:411-423. [PMID: 35864570 PMCID: PMC9859935 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Firefighters have occupational and environmental exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The goal of this study was to compare serum PFAS concentrations across multiple United States fire departments to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants. METHODS Nine serum PFAS were compared in 290 firefighters from four municipal fire departments (coded A-D) and three NHANES participants matched to each firefighter on sex, ethnicity, age, and PFAS collection year. Only Departments A and C had sufficient women study participants (25 and six, respectively) to compare with NHANES. RESULTS In male firefighters compared with NHANES, geometric mean perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) was elevated in Departments A-C, sum of branched perfluoromethylheptane sulfonate isomers (Sm-PFOS) was elevated in all four departments, linear perfluorooctane sulfonate (n-PFOS) was elevated in Departments B and C, linear perfluorooctanoate (n-PFOA) was elevated in Departments B-D, and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) was elevated in Departments B-D, but lower in A. In male firefighters compared with NHANES, perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) was more frequently detected in Departments B and D, and 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetate (MeFOSAA) was less frequently detected in Departments B-D. In female firefighters compared with NHANES, PFHxS and Sm-PFOS concentrations were elevated in Departments A and C. Other PFAS concentrations were elevated and/or reduced in only one department or not significantly different from NHANES in any department. CONCLUSIONS Serum PFHxS, Sm-PFOS, n-PFOS, n-PFOA, and PFNA concentrations were increased in at least two of four fire departments in comparison to NHANES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jefferey L. Burgess
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Julia M. Fisher
- Statistics Consulting Laboratory, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Amy Nematollahi
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Alesia M. Jung
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Miriam M. Calkins
- Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Judith M. Graber
- Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Casey C. Grant
- D&S Research Associates & Engineers, LLC, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shawn C. Beitel
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Sally R. Littau
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | | | | | - Charles Popp
- Boston Fire Department, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Julianne C. Botelho
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Alissa D. Coleman
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | | | - Simi O. Oduwole
- Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
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