Firefighters’ absorption of PAHs and VOCs during controlled residential fires by job assignment and fire attack tactic

Fent, Kenneth W.; Toennis, Christine; Sammons, Deborah L.; Robertson, Shirley; Bertke, Stephen; Calafat, Antònia M.; Pleil, Joachim D.; Wallace, M. Ariel Geer; Kerber, Stephen; Smith, Denise L.; Horn, Gavin P.

doi:10.1038/s41370-019-0145-2

Cited by 61 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“… 17 – 23 Furthermore, there is evidence of increased risk of cancer in the fire service 24 and respiratory exposure is considered an important route for exposure to carcinogenic chemicals. 20 , 22 Although SCBAs are now nearly ubiquitous across the US fire service, there is evidence that SCBAs are not routinely used during all phases of firefighting. 9 , 25 , 26 Specific times when firefighters may be exposed to smoke and other hazards include working on the scene of a structure fire before entering the structure (ie, firefighters often do not don the facemask until they enter the structure) or after the fire has been suppressed while they are performing overhaul duties in the structure.…”

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confidence: 99%

Decreased Pulmonary Function Over 5 Years in US Firefighters

Mathias

Graham

Stewart

et al. 2020

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

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Objective: To examine changes in pulmonary function over a 5-year period in US firefighters. Methods: Spirometry values from occupational medical examinations separated by 5 years (2009 to 2016) were examined from 662 career firefighters in Virginia. Predicted values and expected 5-year changes in one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV 1 ) , forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV 1 /FVC were estimated using reference equations generated from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) data. Paired t -tests were used to identify significant changes over time and between the observed and expected changes. Results: FEV 1 and FVC (percentage of predicted) decreased ( P < 0.001) from 100.9 ± 0.6% to 92.3 ± 0.5% and 99.0 ± 0.6% to 91.9 ± 0.5%, respectfully. The observed decreases in FEV 1, FVC, and FEV 1 /FVC were two to four times greater ( P < 0.001) than the expected decrease over 5 years. Conclusion: Increased efforts are needed to ensure respiratory protection for US firefighters to minimize their risk of pulmonary damage.

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confidence: 99%

Decreased Pulmonary Function Over 5 Years in US Firefighters

Mathias

Graham

Stewart

et al. 2020

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

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“…and fluorene (∑OH-fluorene up to 0.81 µg/g crea.). 15 High phenanthrene exposure was also observed among coke oven workers (median sum of urinary 1-OH-Phe, 2-OH-Phe, 3-OH-Phe, 4-OH-Phe and 9-OH-Phe=10.7 µg/g crea. ), workers in the production of graphite electrodes (5.8 µg/g crea.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Fluorene exposure among PAH-exposed workers is associated with epigenetic markers related to lung cancer

et al. 2020

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ObjectivesExposure to high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may cause cancer in chimney sweeps and creosote-exposed workers, however, knowledge about exposure to low-molecular-weight PAHs in relation to cancer risk is limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate occupational exposure to the low-molecular-weight PAHs phenanthrene and fluorene in relation to different cancer biomarkers.MethodsWe recruited 151 chimney sweeps, 19 creosote-exposed workers and 152 unexposed workers (controls), all men. We measured monohydroxylated metabolites of phenanthrene and fluorene in urine using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We measured, in peripheral blood, the cancer biomarkers telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number using quantitative PCR; and DNA methylation of F2RL3 and AHRR using pyrosequencing.ResultsMedian PAH metabolite concentrations were higher among chimney sweeps (up to 3 times) and creosote-exposed workers (up to 353 times), compared with controls (p<0.001; adjusted for age and smoking). ∑OH-fluorene (sum of 2-hydroxyfluorene and 3-hydroxyfluorene) showed inverse associations with percentage DNA methylation of F2RL3 and AHRR in chimney sweeps (B (95% CI)=–2.7 (–3.9 to –1.5) for F2RL3_cg03636183, and –7.1 (–9.6 to –4.7) for AHRR_cg05575921: adjusted for age and smoking), but not in creosote-exposed workers. In addition, ∑OH-fluorene showed a 42% mediation effect on the inverse association between being a chimney sweep and DNA methylation of AHRR CpG2.ConclusionsChimney sweeps and creosote-exposed workers were occupationally exposed to low-molecular-weight PAHs. Increasing fluorene exposure, among chimney sweeps, was associated with lower DNA methylation of F2RL3 and AHRR, markers for increased lung cancer risk. These findings warrant further investigation of fluorene exposure and toxicity.

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“…This is troubling, since exposure to many of the aforementioned carcinogens, including asbestos and PAH, persists during the overhaul phase 6 7. Furthermore, dermal absorption is also possible during occupational PAH exposure,8–11 including firefighters 12–20…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Firefighter occupation is associated with increased risk for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma among men from the Greater Boston area

et al. 2020

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ObjectiveFirefighters are exposed to a wide variety of carcinogens during the line of duty, including several associated with head and neck cancer. Existing studies assessing head and neck cancer risk with firefighting have predominately included occupational cohorts or registry data, which are limited by inability to adjust for smoking and alcohol consumption—major risk factors for head and neck cancer. Our objective was to assess the risk of head and neck cancer among men with an occupational history as a firefighter.MethodsThis work was conducted using male subjects from a large population-based case–control study of head and neck cancer from the greater Boston area using self-reported occupational history (718 cases and 905 controls).ResultsAn occupational history as a firefighter was reported for 11 cases and 14 controls. Although no significant association was observed overall, we observed substantial increased risk for hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma among professional municipal firefighters who had a light or no smoking history (OR=8.06, 95% CI 1.74 to 37.41), with significantly increasing risk per decade as a firefighter (OR=2.10, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.14).ConclusionProfessional municipal firefighters may be at increased risk for hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma due to carcinogenic exposures encountered during the line of duty.

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Firefighters’ absorption of PAHs and VOCs during controlled residential fires by job assignment and fire attack tactic

Cited by 61 publications

References 40 publications

Decreased Pulmonary Function Over 5 Years in US Firefighters

Decreased Pulmonary Function Over 5 Years in US Firefighters

Fluorene exposure among PAH-exposed workers is associated with epigenetic markers related to lung cancer

Firefighter occupation is associated with increased risk for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma among men from the Greater Boston area

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