Hydroxylated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as Biomarkers of Exposure to Wood Smoke in Wildland Firefighters

Details

• Personal Author:
  Adetona O ; Calafat, Antonia M. ; Li Z ; Naeher LP ; Simpson CD ; Sjödin, Andreas
• Description:
  Wildland firefighter's exposure to wildland fire or vegetative biomass smoke has mostly been assessed by personal monitoring to airborne pollutants. However, the use of biomarkers may accurately reflect the internal (systemic) dose received by the firefighter. In this study, we assessed occupational exposure to wildland fire smoke in 14 wildland firefighters working at prescribed burns at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina by measuring the urinary concentrations of nine hydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs). Except for 1-hydroxynaphthalene, preshift median concentrations of the OH-PAHs were higher compared with the median concentrations reported among the US general population, indicating elevated exposures to PAHs among the wildland firefighters during the prescribed burn season. The postshift concentrations of OH-PAHs were 83-323% (P<0.0001) higher compared with the preshift concentrations. Higher postshift concentrations of individual OH-PAHs were observed in 49 (87.5%) to 53 (94.6%) of all the 56 pre-post sample pairs. Additionally, the cross-shift (pre- to postshift) increase in 4-hydroxy-phenanthrene urinary concentration was marginally associated (P<0.1) with work shift exposure to PM2.5 and significantly associated (P<0.05) with levoglucosan, which is a marker of wildland fire or vegetative biomass smoke. These results suggest that OH-PAHs, especially 4PHE, may be useful biomarkers of wildland fire smoke exposure. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Biomarkers Firefighters Fires Hydrocarbons Occupational Health Particulate Matter Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Safety Urine Wildfires

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• Keywords:
  Air Pollutants Author Keywords: Biomarker Biomonitoring Fire Fighters Particulates Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Smoke Inhalation Urinalysis Vegetative Biomass Smoke Wildland Firefighters Wildland Fire Smoke

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• ISSN:
  1559-0631
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  78-83
• Volume:
  27
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050778
• Citation:
  J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2017 Jan; 27(1):78-83
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. Luke P. Naeher, Department of Environmental Health Science, The University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Athens, GA 30602
• Email:
  lnaeher@uga.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20070901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology
• End Date:
  20100831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ceaf9b34db418ffc287311c329e994339b1788b863d25e9ceaebe0464a2d384d90bebb92ef8594d7c81fe3efb1bdb9552ed69a536ab11eff64b94ddcec10a859
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210997/cdc_210997_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 180.74 KB ]