Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure in Municipal Firefighters

PI: Michael Knipp, DOPresented by Faculty Advisor: Erin N. Haynes, DrPH, MSResearch Collaborators: Chief Ronald Texter, District Chief Cincinnati Fire DepartmentStuart Baxter, PhDSamarat Yeramaneni, BMMS, Epidemiology PhD studentGlenn Talaska, PhDTiffany Beddoe, Industrial Hygiene MS studentJohn Joskolka , Industrial Hygiene MS student

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Product of incomplete combustion

Lipophilic (soluble in oil) Carcinogenic Urinary 1-HP correlates well

with external PAH exposure (Brandt & Watson Ann. Occup. Hyg. 2003)

Skin as an Important Route of Exposure

Lipophilic compounds readily cross the skin.

Skin absorption increases with increasing temperature.

Plantar foot arch 1

Lateral ankle 3Palm 6Ventral forearm 7

Back 12Scalp 25Forehead 43Jaw angle 93Scrotum 300

Relative Regional Permeability of Human

Skin to Topical 14C-Hydrocortisone

Chimney Sweeps: A Lesson in History

English chimney sweeps – Very infrequent washing, loose

clothing– scrotal & testicular cancer

(Pott 1776, Butlin 1892)

Belgian, French, Swedish & German sweeps– Daily washing, tight fitting

clothing– no cancer

(Butlin, 1892; Gustavsson, 1988, 1993)

Cancers of Firefighters

LeMasters GK et al, 2006. Cancer risk among firefighters: A review and meta analysis of 32 studies. JOEM.

Review of 32 articles on firefighters (110,000 full-time firefighters) and health effects found:

Cancers probably elevated in firefighters are:– Multiple myeloma – Non-Hodgkins lymphoma– Prostate cancer– Testicular cancer

Hypothesis

Firefighting will result in a significantly higher exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as measured by dermalexposure and urinary 1-HP than a non-firefighting occupation.

Research Requires Collaboration!

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Methods: Study Population

Firefighters– Cincinnati Fire Stations 19 (Corryville) – 14 (4th St. and Central)

Nonfirefighters– UC Radiation Safety

DemographicsFirefighters Radiation Safety

n 35 9Age (years) 42 43

Female 1 (3%) 2 (22%)Smoking status

Never 21 of 30 (70%) 2 (28%)Current 5 of 30 (17%) 3 of 7 (43%)Former 4 of 30 (13%) 2 of 7 (28%)

Unknown 5 of 35 (14%) 2 of 9 (22%)

Kelly Day 1-HP vs. Post Fire Event 1-HP in Firefighters

Urinary 1-HP Concentration (µg/L)

Kelly DayMean (St.Dev)

Post Fire Event Mean (St.Dev)

P value(one-tailed)

n 10 131-HP 0.34 (0.44) 0.96 (1.19) 0.02

1-HP analyzed under the direction of Dr. Glenn Talaska.

Kelly Day 1-HP vs. Post Fire Event 1-HP in Firefighters

Urinary 1-HP Concentration (µg/L)

Kelly DayMean (St.Dev)

Post Fire Event Mean (St.Dev)

P value(one-tailed)

n 10 131-HP 0.34 (0.44) 0.96 (1.19) 0.02

Analyses remaining: Analyze remaining firefighter urine and unexposed group urine for 1-HP.

Detectable PAHs in Firefighter Dust/Face Wipes Following a Fire Event

PAH

N (%) of samples detected

Mean (St. Dev) Concentration (ng)

Benz[a]anthracene 3 (15%) 0.11 (0.023)

Benzo{b,j,k] fluoranthene 13 (65%) 0.16 (0.049)

Benzo[a]pyrene 2 (10%) 0.09 (0.04)

Benzo[e]pyrene 1 (5%) 0.11

Chrysene 1 (5%) 0.10

7,12-DImethylbenz[a]anthracene 1 (5%) 0.05

Fluoranthene 3 (15%) 0.08 (0.03)

Ideno[1,2,3,-c,d]pyrene 1 (5%) 0.06

Phenanthrene 1 (5%) 0.15

Pyrene 6 (30%) 0.12 (0.02)

Preliminary Conclusions

Benzo{b,j,k] fluoranthene and pyrene were the most frequently detected PAHs in the soot collected from the face/neck skin wipe of firefighters following a fire event.

Urinary 1-HP was significantly higher following fire event than Kelly Day urine.

Future Directions & Questions

Complete laboratory & data analysisWhat is the interaction of the individual

PAHs in soot? Evaluate the long-term effect of PAH

exposure using cumulative effect biomarkers of exposure, i.e., chromosome aberrations.

Thank you!