Firefighters exposure to fire emissions: Impact on levels of biomarkers of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and genotoxic/oxidative-effects

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020-02-05

Authors

Klára Slezáková (Author) FEUP; Marta Oliveira (Author) Other; Solange Costa (Author) Other; Josiana Vaz (Author) Other; Adília Fernandes (Author) Other; Cristina Delerue Matos (Author) Other; João Paulo Teixeira (Author) FMUP; Maria do Carmo Pereira (Author) FEUP; Simone Morais (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Hazardous Materials

Vol. 383

Pages: 1-10

ISSN: 0304-3894

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 47 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 58 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences ; Natural sciences > Environmental science

Associated Projects

BioFirEx - Um painel de (bio)marcadores para a vigilância da saúde e da segurança do bombeiro

LEPABE - Projeto Estratégico do LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-21F

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121179

Abstract (EN): Firefighters represent one of the riskiest occupations, yet due to the logistic reasons, the respective exposure assessment is one of the most challenging. Thus, this work assessed the impact of firefighting activities on levels of urinary monohydroxyl-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OHPAHs; 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 1-hydroxyacenaphthene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1-hydroxypyrene, 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene) and genotoxic/oxidative-effect biomarkers (basal DNA and oxidative DNA damage) of firefighters from eight firehouses. Cardiac frequency, blood pressure and arterial oxygen saturation were also monitored. OHPAHs were determined by liquid-chromatography with fluorescence detection, while genotoxic/oxidative-effect biomarkers were assessed by the comet assay. Concentrations of total OHPAHs were up to 340% higher (p ≤ 0.05) in (non-smoking and smoking) exposed workers than in control subjects (non-smoking and non-exposed to combat activities); the highest increments were observed for 1-hydroxynaphthalene and 1-hydroxyacenaphthene (82–88% of ∑OHPAHs), and for 2-hydroxyfluorene (5–15%). Levels of biomarker for oxidative stress were increased in non-smoking exposed workers than in control group (316%; p ≤ 0.001); inconclusive results were found for DNA damage. Positive correlations were found between the cardiac frequency, ∑OHPAHs and the oxidative DNA damage of non-smoking (non-exposed and exposed) firefighters. Evidences were raised regarding the simultaneous use of these biomarkers for the surveillance of firefighters’ health and to better estimate the potential short-term health risks. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10