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!
