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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
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 (nonsmoking
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 ΣOHPAHs), 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, ΣOHPAHs 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.
Description
Keywords
DNA damage Firefighting Human biomonitoring Tobacco smoking Urinary monohydroxyl metabolites
Citation
Oliveira, M.; Costa, Solange; Vaz, Josiana A.; Fernandes, Adília; Slezakova, K.; Delerue-Matos, C.; Teixeira, J.P.; Pereira, M.C.; Morais, S. (2020). Firefighters exposure to fire emissions: impact on levels of biomarkers of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and genotoxic/oxidative-effects. In Journal of Hazardous Materials. ISSN 0304-3894. 383, p. 1-10
Publisher
Elsevier