Abstract
This work characterizes levels of eighteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the breathing air zone of firefighters during their regular work shift at eight Portuguese fire stations, and the firefighters’ total internal dose by six urinary monohydroxyl metabolites (OH-PAHs). Total PAHs (ΣPAHs) concentrations varied widely (46.4–428ng/m3), mainly due to site specificity (urban/rural) and characteristics (age and layout) of buildings. Airborne PAHs with 2–3 rings were the most abundant (63.9–95.7% ΣPAHs). Similarly, urinary 1-hydroxynaphthalene and 1-hydroxyacenaphthene were the predominant metabolites (66–96% ΣOH-PAHs). Naphthalene contributed the most to carcinogenic ΣPAHs (39.4–78.1%) in majority of firehouses; benzo[a]pyrene, the marker of carcinogenic PAHs, accounted with 1.5–10%. Statistically positive significant correlations (r≥0.733, p≤0.025) were observed between ΣPAHs and urinary ΣOH-PAHs for firefighters of four fire stations suggesting that, at these sites, indoor air was their major exposure source of PAHs. Firefighter’s personal exposure to PAHs at Portuguese fire stations were well below the existent occupational exposure limits. Also, the quantified concentrations of post-shift urinary 1-hydroxypyrene in all firefighters were clearly lower than the benchmark level (0.5μmol/mol) recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
Highlights
Firefighting, along with construction, mining, and agriculture, ranks among the most dangerous professions, with its occupational exposure being regarded as possible carcinogen to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) [1,2]
The fire stations Freixo de Espada à Cinta (FEC), MDL, and Miranda do Douro (MRD) were located in the urban center of the city, near commercial shops and busy roads, while the firehouses Torre de Moncorvo (TMC) and Torre Dona Chama (TDC) were situated in villages
PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with 2–3 aromatic rings represented 63.9% (FEC) to 95.7% (MDL) of PAHs; 4 aromatic ring compounds accounted with 0.79% (MRD) to 2.05% (TMC) and 5 or more aromatic ring PAHs corresponded to 2.74% (MDL) to 34.7% (FEC) of PAHs (Fig. 2)
Summary
Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene have been under scrutiny because they are regarded as probable carcinogens to humans due to their higher carcinogenic potency than benzo[a]pyrene [9,10,11,12]. Electrophilic compounds such as PAHs play a key role in environmental cancer and some recent evidences associate their role in cardiovascular disease [13]. Firefighters’ occupational exposure has been associated with excess morbidity and mortality with cardiovascular disease being considered as the leading cause of death in approximately 45% of firefighters and a major cause of their morbidity [14,15,16].
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