TY - JOUR

T1 - Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA damage in human volunteers during fire extinction exercises

AU - Andersen, Maria Helena Guerra

AU - Saber, Anne Thoustrup

AU - Clausen, Per Axel

AU - Pedersen, Julie Elbæk

AU - Løhr, Mille

AU - Kermanizadeh, Ali

AU - Loft, Steffen

AU - Ebbehøj, Niels

AU - Hansen, Åse Marie

AU - Pedersen, Peter Bøgh

AU - Koponen, Ismo Kalevi

AU - Nørskov, Eva-Carina

AU - Møller, Peter

AU - Vogel, Ulla

PY - 2018/1/1

Y1 - 2018/1/1

N2 - This study investigated a number of biomarkers, associated with systemic inflammation as well as genotoxicity, in 53 young and healthy subjects participating in a course to become firefighters, while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). The exposure period consisted of a 3-day training course where the subjects participated in various live-fire training exercises. The subjects were instructed to extinguish fires of either wood or wood with electrical cords and mattresses. The personal exposure was measured as dermal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations and urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP). The subjects were primarily exposed to particulate matter (PM) in by-stander positions, since the self-contained breathing apparatus effectively prevented pulmonary exposure. There was increased dermal exposure to pyrene (68.1%, 95% CI: 52.5%, 83.8%) and sum of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ƩPAH; 79.5%, 95% CI: 52.5%, 106.6%), and increased urinary excretion of 1-OHP (70.4%, 95% CI: 52.5%; 106.6%) after the firefighting exercise compared with the mean of two control measurements performed 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the firefighting course, respectively. The level of Fpg-sensitive sites in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was increased by 8.0% (95% CI: 0.02%, 15.9%) compared with control measurements. The level of DNA strand breaks was positively associated with dermal exposure to pyrene and ƩPAHs, and urinary excretion of 1-OHP. Fpg-sensitive sites were only associated positively with PAHs. Biomarkers of inflammation and lung function showed no consistent response. In summary, the study demonstrated that PAH exposure during firefighting activity was associated with genotoxicity in PBMCs.

AB - This study investigated a number of biomarkers, associated with systemic inflammation as well as genotoxicity, in 53 young and healthy subjects participating in a course to become firefighters, while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). The exposure period consisted of a 3-day training course where the subjects participated in various live-fire training exercises. The subjects were instructed to extinguish fires of either wood or wood with electrical cords and mattresses. The personal exposure was measured as dermal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations and urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP). The subjects were primarily exposed to particulate matter (PM) in by-stander positions, since the self-contained breathing apparatus effectively prevented pulmonary exposure. There was increased dermal exposure to pyrene (68.1%, 95% CI: 52.5%, 83.8%) and sum of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ƩPAH; 79.5%, 95% CI: 52.5%, 106.6%), and increased urinary excretion of 1-OHP (70.4%, 95% CI: 52.5%; 106.6%) after the firefighting exercise compared with the mean of two control measurements performed 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the firefighting course, respectively. The level of Fpg-sensitive sites in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was increased by 8.0% (95% CI: 0.02%, 15.9%) compared with control measurements. The level of DNA strand breaks was positively associated with dermal exposure to pyrene and ƩPAHs, and urinary excretion of 1-OHP. Fpg-sensitive sites were only associated positively with PAHs. Biomarkers of inflammation and lung function showed no consistent response. In summary, the study demonstrated that PAH exposure during firefighting activity was associated with genotoxicity in PBMCs.

KW - Adult

KW - Biomarkers

KW - Cross-Over Studies

KW - DNA Damage/drug effects

KW - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

KW - Female

KW - Firefighters

KW - Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

KW - Healthy Volunteers

KW - Humans

KW - Inflammation Mediators/blood

KW - Inhalation Exposure

KW - Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects

KW - Male

KW - Occupational Exposure/adverse effects

KW - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/toxicity

KW - Respiratory Function Tests

KW - Skin/chemistry

KW - Urinalysis

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1093/mutage/gex021

DO - 10.1093/mutage/gex021

M3 - Article

C2 - 29045708

VL - 33

SP - 105

EP - 115

JO - Mutagenesis

JF - Mutagenesis

SN - 0267-8357

IS - 1

ER -