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Persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in firefighters from Northern California

2013; Elsevier BV; Volume: 91; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.12.070

1879-1298

Susan D. Shaw, Michelle L. Berger, Jennifer H. Harris, Se Hun Yun, Qian Wu, Chunyang Liao, Arlene Blum, Anthony Stefani, Kurunthachalam Kannan,

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research

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 5 pg g−1 (lipid weight), lw, range 1–11 pg g−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 104 pg g−1 lw, range 0.2–734 pg g−1 lw) suggested that PBDD/Fs may contribute substantially to dioxin-like toxicity in individual firefighters. PBDE concentrations were elevated in firefighter serum (mean 135 ng g−1 lw, range 48–442 ng g−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 12 ng ml−1 (wet weight), ww, range 3 ng ml−1 ww to 59 ng ml−1 ww), followed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (mean 7 ng ml−1 ww, range 2 ng ml−1 ww to 12 ng ml−1 ww). Concentrations of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (mean 2 ng ml−1 ww, range 1–4 ng ml−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.