Serum per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in four municipal US fire departments

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.

Occupational exposures to airborne per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—A review

“…As for the firefighter data, the dust samples provide a perspective of what PFAS firefighters may be exposed to during day‐to‐day operations in the fire station but do not account for exposures associated with firefighting activities. Firefighters' PFOS and PFHxS serum levels were, in general, higher than the median NHANES population data and similar to the levels observed in populations exposed through water contamination 32,33 . Because the levels measured in air and dust at fire stations are comparable to those measured in residential settings, firefighters are likely to be exposed to PFAS during firefighting activities.…”

“…Similar patterns were observed in studies with measured serum PFAS levels. Ski waxers were observed to have PFAS serum levels similar to populations exposed to PFAS through contaminated water 32,33 . Our analysis shows that air concentrations of PFDA, PFOA, PFNA, and PFDoDA in ski waxing facilities can exceed occupational indoor air screening levels calculated for this review (Figures 1A, 2A, and 6A).…”

“…Because the levels measured in air and dust at fire stations are comparable to those measured in residential settings, firefighters are likely to be exposed to PFAS during firefighting activities. Other studies have shown higher levels of PFAS in firefighters' serum compared to the general population 32,33 . The high levels of PFAS in serum may suggest that firefighters either are exposed while using AFFF or other firefighting foams that contain PFAS, or from exposures associated with changing out of and cleaning their gear 6 .…”

Firefighter occupational factors and the risk of preterm birth: results from a survey of women firefighters in the USA

“…[4][5][6][7] Firefighters could be particularly vulnerable to these exposures, given their high level of exposures. [8][9][10] Research among career (full-time, salaried) firefighters in the USA has shown that pregnancies to working firefighters were more than twice as likely to result in self-reported pregnancy loss compared with non-firefighters. 1 However, exposures vary by firefighter type because of differences in time at fires, combustion products, activities and equipment used.…”

“…Some potential occupational exposures (air pollutants, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and high temperatures) have also been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes among non-firefighters 4–7. Firefighters could be particularly vulnerable to these exposures, given their high level of exposures 8–10…”