Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in firefighters at fire training facilities and in employees at respiratory protection and hose workshops.

Introduction: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic to humans and are formed by incomplete combustion. PAHs are always present during firefighting operations, and fire department members can be exposed to them in the workplace. Methods: In this study, we analyzed 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in 36 urine samples from nine firefighters, collected before and after fire training sessions, and 32 urine samples from eight employees at respiratory protection and hose workshops. To assess breakthrough PAH exposure through personal protective equipment and potential dermal uptake, some of the workshop employees wore cotton garments under their regular workwear. Cotton samples were then examined for the presence of 17 semi-volatile and low-volatility PAHs. Results: After firefighting exercises, we observed approximately a fivefold increase in mean 1-OHP concentrations in samples from firefighters, from 0.24 µg/L to 1.17 µg/L (maximum: 5.31 µg/L). In contrast, 1-OHP levels in workshop employees were found to be low, with the majority of urine samples yielding concentrations below the limit of quantification (LOQ: 0.05 µg/L, maximum: 0.11 µg/L). Similarly, low PAH levels were found on the workshop employees' cotton undergarments, with maximum concentrations of 250 and 205 ng/g for pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene, respectively. Discussion: In conclusion, significant increases in 1-OHP in urine were observed in firefighters after training sessions, whereas work-related exposure remained low among workshop employees.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons assessed by biomonitoring of firefighters during fire operations in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Firefighters are exposed to a variety of hazardous substances including carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) during firefighting. In order to minimize the uptake of such substances into the body, firefighters wear personal protective equipment. Only few data exist from real-life firefighting missions and under common although highly variable exposure scenarios such as fighting fires in residential buildings, outdoor, and vehicle fires. The aim of this study is to assess the levels of 1-Hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as marker for incorporated PAH during firefighting operations in Germany using biomonitoring methods. METHODS: We analyzed urine samples for 1-OHP from 77 firefighters who reported firefighting operations (with and without creatinine adjustment). Urine samples were collected before (baseline) and, where applicable, after firefighting operations at three time points subsequent (2-4, 6-8, and 12 h). RESULTS: Compared to the baseline measurements, mean 1-OHP concentrations after firefighting missions were doubled (0.14 vs. 0.31 µg/L urine, 0.13 µg/g vs. 0.27 µg/g creatinine) and this increase was observed 2-4 h after firefighting. Firefighting in residential buildings (N = 54) and of outdoor and vehicle fires (N = 17) occurred most frequently, whereas blazes, vegetation fires, and fires in underground facilities (N = 6) were rarely encountered. For residential building fires, a 3-fold increase in mean 1-OPH concentrations was observed, whereas no increase could be observed for outdoor and vehicle fires. The highest increase was observed for firefighters with interior attack missions (0.11 µg/L vs. 0.48 µg/L 1-OHP) despite the use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). During the suppression of outdoor or vehicle fires using SCBA, again, no increase was observed. Although PAH are taken up during certain firefighting missions, the 1-OHP levels almost entirely remained (in 64 of the 77 reported missions) within the normal range of the German general population, i.e., below the reference levels (95th percentiles) of smokers (0.73 µg/g creatinine) and non-smokers (0.30 µg/g creatine). CONCLUSION: Under study conditions, properly applied protective clothing and wearing of SCBA led to a significant reduction of PAH exposure levels. But there are individual situations in which PAH are increasingly incorporated since the incorporation depends on several factors and can be extremely variable. In contrast to many workplaces with high occupational exposure levels, firefighters are not exposed to PAH on a daily basis. Nevertheless, the possibility of an individual increased cancer risk for a particular firefighter cannot completely be ruled out.