title: Persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in firefighters from Northern California.
abstract: Polychlorinated and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs and PBDD/Fs) were measured in serum of twelve firefighters sampled after a fire event in San Francisco, California, along with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p,p'-DDE, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), bisphenol-A (BPA) and tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA). TEQPCDD/F concentrations were relatively low (mean 5pgg(-1) (lipid weight), lw, range 1-11pgg(-1)lw), but concentrations of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, a congener indicative of exposure during firefighting, were elevated. Tentative WHO2005-TEQs calculated for PBDD/Fs in our samples (mean 104pgg(-1)lw, range 0.2-734pgg(-1)lw) suggested that PBDD/Fs may contribute substantially to dioxin-like toxicity in individual firefighters. PBDE concentrations were elevated in firefighter serum (mean 135ngg(-1)lw, range 48-442ngg(-1)lw). PBDE-209, PBDE-47 and PBDE-153 were prevalent congeners; PBDE-209 contributed >50% of the total PBDE concentration in four individuals, implying continuous occupational exposure to deca-BDE. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) was the dominant PFC in serum (mean 12ngml(-1) (wet weight), ww, range 3ngml(-1)ww to 59ngml(-1)ww), followed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (mean 7ngml(-1)ww, range 2ngml(-1)ww to 12ngml(-1)ww). Concentrations of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (mean 2ngml(-1)ww, range 1-4ngml(-1)ww) were higher than those reported in the high-smoke exposure group of World Trade Center fire responders, suggesting that the California firefighters were exposed to PFNA in smoke during firefighting. Given their elevated rates of cancers, these results illustrate the importance of monitoring halogenated contaminants including PBDD/Fs in firefighters.
authors: Marine Environmental Research Institute, Center for Marine Studies, P.O. Box 1652, Blue Hill, ME 04614, USA. sshaw@meriresearch.org
authors: Susan D
authors: SD
authors: Shaw
authors: Michelle L
authors: ML
authors: Berger
authors: Jennifer H
authors: JH
authors: Harris
authors: Se Hun
authors: SH
authors: Yun
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Wu
authors: Chunyang
authors: C
authors: Liao
authors: Arlene
authors: A
authors: Blum
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Stefani
authors: Kurunthachalam
authors: K
authors: Kannan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D002140:California; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters; D006801:Humans; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins