Assessment of Health Effects in New York City Firefighters after Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDFs): The Staten Island Transformer Fire Health Surveillance Project

Abstract

Following an electrical transformer fire in Staten Island, New York, a health surveillance program was established for 60 New York City firefighters and emergency medical technicians exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Exposure potential was documented after high levels of PCBs and PCDFs were found on transformer and firefighters' uniforms. Personnel received comprehensive medical examinations, and the results were compared with preexposure values. Serum was analyzed for PCBs, PCDFs, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). Follow-up was conducted 9 mo later. Thirty-two of 58 (55%) firefighters reported initial symptoms, and 3 firefighters required brief medical leave. Pulmonary functions, exercise performance, serum liver functions, and serum lipid profiles were normal or unchanged from preexposure baselines. Serum PCBs averaged 2.92 +/- 1.96 ppb (range = 1.9-11.0 ppb). Five (8%) had serum PCBs that were greater than or equal to 6 ppb. Eight (73%) had a significant decrease (p = .05) in serum PCB level at the time of follow-up. Serum toxic equivalency (TEQ [1998 World Health Organization]) for total PCDDs and PCDFs averaged 39.0 +/- 21.5 (n = 48). Eighteen (38%) had elevated TEQs (i.e., > 40). All firefighters had no short-term heath effects. Modern firefighting uniforms are not meant to replace HAZMAT suits, but these uniforms provide protection from this chemical exposure for most firefighters.

Biomonitoring of chemical exposure among New York City firefighters responding to the World Trade Center fire and collapse.

“…Further kinetic data are needed to understand the relationship of exposure to burning plastics under various exposure conditions with internal dose levels. One report of firefighters after exposures to a transformer fire found 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzodioxin to have the highest average blood levels, with the exception of the fully chlorinated octa class compounds (Kelly et al 2002). These findings are also consistent with the general U.S. population data showing the octa and hepta congeners to be among the most detectable (CDC 2003).…”

Polychlorinated biphenyl quinone induces endothelial barrier dysregulation by setting the cross talk between VE-cadherin, focal adhesion, and MAPK signaling

“…It was reported that average daily intake of PCBs by human beings via ambient air is about 100 ng, and average daily intake via drinking water is Ͻ200 ng (7). The average serum PCB levels for general population is about 1 to 2 parts/billion (ppb) (30,33), whereas in occupationally exposed populations the PCB levels are more than 4 ppb (30, 33). Roya et al (52) detected blood PCB concentration in women with endometriosis and found that women with stage IV endometriosis had a blood PCB29 concentration of 0.99 Ϯ 0.54 ppb.…”

A systematic review of job-specific workers’ health surveillance activities for fire-fighting, ambulance, police and military personnel

“…Job-specific means that the measured aspect is a risk for the health or safety of the employee or the public, due to the tasks in the job. Some of the different aspects covered in this study were the traditional WHS, as measuring late responses to exposure in real work (Winwood et al 2009;Levin et al 2004;Wright et al 2002;Greven et al 2009;McDiarmid et al 2007;Vimercati et al 2006;Kelly et al 2002). However, some less traditional aspects of WHS were covered also and the job specificity of some of these studies might need some explanation.…”

“…For the environmental exposure studies, the reasons for starting a WHS activity were job-specific; however, in some of those studies, not always a clear description was made by the authors of the relation between the job requirements and the measurement (i.e. in Levin et al 2004;Kelly et al 2002). In the intervention studies, it was clear how the interventions related to the job.…”

“…These studies contained health measurements after exposure to substances during work. Two studies described health surveillances after fires with exposure to chemical substances (Greven et al 2009;Kelly et al 2002). Blood samples and respiratory measures were taken to assess the health consequences of the exposure.…”