1. Baseline data and associations between urinary biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, blood pressure, hemogram, and lifestyle among wildland firefighters
- Author
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Bela Barros, Ana Margarida Paiva, Marta Oliveira, Sara Alves, Filipa Esteves, Adília Fernandes, Josiana Vaz, Klara Slezakova, Solange Costa, João Paulo Teixeira, and Simone Morais
- Subjects
firefighters health ,biomonitoring ,biomarkers of exposure ,smoking ,hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ,biomarkers of effect ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 - Abstract
IntroductionAvailable literature has found an association between firefighting and pathologic pathways leading to cardiorespiratory diseases, which have been linked with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are highlighted as priority pollutants by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative in occupational and non-occupational contexts.MethodsThis cross-sectional study is the first to simultaneously characterize six creatinine-adjusted PAHs metabolites (OHPAHs) in urine, blood pressure, cardiac frequency, and hemogram parameters among wildland firefighters without occupational exposure to fire emissions (> 7 days), while exploring several variables retrieved via questionnaires.ResultsOverall, baseline levels for total OHPAHs levels were 2 to 23-times superior to the general population, whereas individual metabolites remained below the general population median range (except for 1-hydroxynaphthalene+1-hydroxyacenaphtene). Exposure to gaseous pollutants and/or particulate matter during work-shift was associated with a 3.5-fold increase in total OHPAHs levels. Firefighters who smoke presented 3-times higher total concentration of OHPAHs than non-smokers (p
- Published
- 2024
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