Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances in a Cohort of Women Firefighters and Office Workers in San Francisco

Abstract

Studies of firefighters have shown increased exposures to carcinogenic compounds and elevated rates of certain cancers compared to the general population, yet this research has focused almost exclusively on men. To address this gap, the Women Firefighters Biomonitoring Collaborative created a biological sample archive and analyzed levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) among women firefighters (N = 86) and office workers (N = 84) in San Francisco. Serum samples were collected and analyzed using liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS) to measure and compare PFAS levels between firefighters and office workers. 7 of 12 PFAS congeners were detected in the least 70% of the study population, and 4 congeners were detected in 100% of participants. In regression models comparing PFAS levels by occupation and adjusting for potential confounders, firefighters had higher geometric mean concentrations of PFAS compared to office workers PFHxS (2.22 (95% CI = 1.55, 3.18)), PFUnDA (1.83 (95% CI = 0.97, 3.45)), and PFNA (1.26 (95% CI = 1.01, 1.58)). Among firefighters, occupational position predicted exposurefirefighters and officers had higher PFNA, PFOA, PFDA, and PFUnDA levels compared to drivers. Women firefighters are exposed to higher levels of some PFAS compared to office workers, suggesting that some of these exposures may be occupationally related.

Gaussian graphical modeling of the serum exposome and metabolome reveals interactions between environmental chemicals and endogenous metabolites involved in critical metabolic processes

“…These two populations probably exhibit significant differences in terms of chemical exposure levels. For example, median serum concentrations of PFHxS in both FF (4.05 ng/mL) and OW (2.55 ng/mL) were twice as high as those measured in NHANES (1.6 ng/mL for cycles 2003-2014) 16 . As such, our NHANES analysis may underestimate or overestimate the associations between chemical exposures and hypothesized health outcomes (e.g.…”

“…The instability of certain associations is possibly due to inter-occupation variability in the levels of chemical exposures as well as the small sample size. LC-MS/MS analysis of PFAS revealed that serum levels of PFHxS were higher in FF [median = 4.1 ng/mL and interquartile range (IQR) = 5.7 ng/mL] compared to OW (median = 2.5 ng/mL and IQR = 3.8 ng/mL) 16 .…”

Associations between polyfluoroalkyl substance and organophosphate flame retardant exposures and telomere length in a cohort of women firefighters and office workers in San Francisco

“…The WWBC recruitment, enrollment, and sample collection protocol has been described previously (67). Briefly, recruitment and sample collection took place between June 2014 and Francisco.…”

“…Studies have documented firefighters' exposure to benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), formaldehyde, dioxins, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) (60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68).…”

“…Firefighters are exposed to PFAS through the combustion of PFAS-containing products such as furniture and carpet and through firefighting gear and firefighting foams that contain these compounds (57,64,70,71). Indeed, research shows that firefighters have elevated levels of certain PFAS relative to nonfirefighters (64,67,71). PFAS exposures have been associated with adverse health outcomes, including cancer(72-79).…”