Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances in a cohort of women firefighters and office workers in San Francisco

Trowbridge, Jessica; Gerona, Roy; Lin, Thomas S.; Rudel, Ruthann A.; Bessonneau, Vincent; Buren, Heather; Morello‐Frosch, Rachel

doi:10.1101/19005652

Cited by 4 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…However, they had elevated blood levels of PFOS and PFHxS, which is consistent with the composition of legacy electrochemical fluorination AFFF. Elevated levels of PFNA and other long‐chain PFCAs have been connected to occupational exposure for firefighters (Laitinen et al 2014; Trowbridge et al 2020). Professional ski wax technicians showed elevated blood levels of PFCA, which was associated with number of working years.…”

Section: Ranking Sources Of Pfas Exposure For Human Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

PFAS Exposure Pathways for Humans and Wildlife: A Synthesis of Current Knowledge and Key Gaps in Understanding

Silva

Armitage

Bruton

et al. 2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

447

225

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We synthesize current understanding of the magnitudes and methods for assessing human and wildlife exposures to poly‐ and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Most human exposure assessments have focused on 2 to 5 legacy PFAS, and wildlife assessments are typically limited to targeted PFAS (up to ~30 substances). However, shifts in chemical production are occurring rapidly, and targeted methods for detecting PFAS have not kept pace with these changes. Total fluorine measurements complemented by suspect screening using high‐resolution mass spectrometry are thus emerging as essential tools for PFAS exposure assessment. Such methods enable researchers to better understand contributions from precursor compounds that degrade into terminal perfluoroalkyl acids. Available data suggest that diet is the major human exposure pathway for some PFAS, but there is large variability across populations and PFAS compounds. Additional data on total fluorine in exposure media and the fraction of unidentified organofluorine are needed. Drinking water has been established as the major exposure source in contaminated communities. As water supplies are remediated, for the general population, exposures from dust, personal care products, indoor environments, and other sources may be more important. A major challenge for exposure assessments is the lack of statistically representative population surveys. For wildlife, bioaccumulation processes differ substantially between PFAS and neutral lipophilic organic compounds, prompting a reevaluation of traditional bioaccumulation metrics. There is evidence that both phospholipids and proteins are important for the tissue partitioning and accumulation of PFAS. New mechanistic models for PFAS bioaccumulation are being developed that will assist in wildlife risk evaluations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:631–657. © 2020 SETAC

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Section: Ranking Sources Of Pfas Exposure For Human Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

PFAS Exposure Pathways for Humans and Wildlife: A Synthesis of Current Knowledge and Key Gaps in Understanding

Silva

Armitage

Bruton

et al. 2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

447

225

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The WWBC recruitment, enrollment, and sample collection protocol has been described previously(67). Briefly, recruitment and sample collection took place between June 2014 and March 2015.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As described previously(67), twelve PFAS were selected for targeted analysis in serum: perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBuS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA). The 12 PFAS were analyzed in 0.5 mL of serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analysts were blinded to firefighter and office worker status of the serum samples during the analysis. Results were reported in ng/mL for all 170 study participants(67).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firefighters are exposed to PFAS through the combustion of PFAS-containing products such as furniture and carpet and through firefighting gear and firefighting foams that contain these compounds(57,64,70,71). Indeed, research shows that firefighters have elevated levels of certain PFAS relative to non-firefighters(64,67,71). PFAS exposures have been associated with adverse health outcomes, including cancer(72–79).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associations between polyfluoroalkyl substance and organophosphate flame retardant exposures and telomere length in a cohort of women firefighters and office workers in San Francisco

Clarity

Trowbridge

Gerona

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

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Background Environmental chemical exposures can affect telomere length, which in turn has been associated with adverse health outcomes including cancer. Firefighters are occupationally exposed to many hazardous chemicals and have higher rates of certain cancers. As a potential marker of effect, we assessed associations between chemical exposures and telomere length in women firefighters and office workers from San Francisco, CA. Methods We measured serum levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), urinary metabolites of flame retardants, including organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), and telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes in women firefighters and office workers who participated in the 2014-15 Women Workers Biomonitoring Collaborative. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations between chemical exposures and telomere length. Results Regression results revealed significant positive associations between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and telomere length and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and telomere length among the whole cohort. Models stratified by occupation showed stronger and more significant associations among firefighters as compared to office workers. Among firefighters in models adjusted for age, we found positive associations between telomere length and log-transformed PFOA (β(95%CI) = 0.57(0.12, 1.02)), PFOS (0.44 (0.05, 0.83)), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (0.43 (0.02, 0.84)). Modeling PFAS as categories of exposure showed significant associations between perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and telomere length among firefighters. Significant associations between OPFR metabolites and telomere length were seen for bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP) and telomere length among office workers (0.21(0.03, 0.40)) and bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP) and telomere length among firefighters (-0.14(-0.28, -0.01)). For OPFRs, the difference in the direction of effect by occupational group may be due to the disparate detection frequencies and levels of exposure between the two groups and/or potential unmeasured confounding. Conclusion Our findings suggest positive associations between PFAS and telomere length in women workers, with larger effects seen among firefighters as compared to office workers. The OPFR metabolites BDCPP and BCEP are also associated with telomere length in firefighters and office workers. Associations between chemical exposures and telomere length reported here and by others suggest mechanisms by which these chemicals may affect carcinogenesis and other adverse health outcomes.

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Release of Volatile Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Aqueous Film-Forming Foam

Roth

Abusallout

Hill

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett.

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Research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) released from aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) has primarily focused on soil and groundwater contamination, or atmospheric transport. However, gas-phase PFAS release from AFFF has not been well examined. We investigated the presence of volatile PFASs in the headspace above agitated AFFF concentrate produced within the past two years using two analytical techniques. One method utilized polyurethane foam and XAD resin with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to quantify 30 PFASs and is similar to methods used by others to measure PFASs in air. A second, more exploratory approach used a thermal desorption sampler and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to measure 22 PFASs. Sixteen PFASs were detected in the headspace, including five fluorotelomer alcohols (0.5–38.1 μg/m3), 10 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (0.4–13670 μg/m3), and one fluorotelomer sulfonate (72.1 μg/m3). The most abundant PFAS detected in the headspace was perfluorooctanoic acid (13670 μg/m3), although it was detected only by GC-MS. Five additional fully fluorinated, iodinated, and ethenyl fluorocarbons were identified but not quantified. It is likely that firefighters are exposed to these compounds, but the risk is not yet known.

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Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances in a cohort of women firefighters and office workers in San Francisco

Cited by 4 publications

References 67 publications

PFAS Exposure Pathways for Humans and Wildlife: A Synthesis of Current Knowledge and Key Gaps in Understanding

PFAS Exposure Pathways for Humans and Wildlife: A Synthesis of Current Knowledge and Key Gaps in Understanding

Associations between polyfluoroalkyl substance and organophosphate flame retardant exposures and telomere length in a cohort of women firefighters and office workers in San Francisco

Release of Volatile Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Aqueous Film-Forming Foam

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