What question did this study set out to answer?

To measure serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants, including PBDE flame retardants, PCBs, and organochlorine pesticides, among occupationally exposed firefighters.

February 2, 2015Environmental Science & Technology

High Exposure of California Firefighters to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

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Authors

JPJune-Soo ParkCalifornia Department of Toxic Substances Control RVRobert VossCentral Institute for the Deaf SMSandra V. McNeelCalifornia Department of Public Health

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Implication

Biomonitoring study reveals elevated serum polybrominated diphenyl ethers in firefighters, indicating that turnout gear cleaning and storage practices mitigate occupational chemical exposures.

Key Points

To measure serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants, including PBDE flame retardants, PCBs, and organochlorine pesticides, among occupationally exposed firefighters.
Quantified serum concentrations of PBDEs, PCBs, and OCPs in a cross-sectional sample of 101 Southern California firefighters.
Used multivariable analysis to assess relationships between chemical concentrations and occupational turnout gear cleaning and storage practices.
Firefighters exhibited elevated Σ5PBDE concentrations (median: 59.1 ng/g of lipid; range: 18.8–714 ng/g of lipid) compared to concurrent California general population levels.
Nearly one-third of participants displayed high serum levels of BDE-209, whereas serum PCBs and OCPs were not elevated relative to general U.S. population reference levels.
Multivariable analysis showed that routine turnout gear cleaning and proper storage after fire responses were significantly associated with reduced serum PBDE levels.

Cite This Study

Park et al. (2015) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9c01b707bc359ca0f8ed68 https://doi.org/10.1021/es5055918

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Implication

Biomonitoring study reveals elevated serum polybrominated diphenyl ethers in firefighters, indicating that turnout gear cleaning and storage practices mitigate occupational chemical exposures.

High Exposure of California Firefighters to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

High Exposure of California Firefighters to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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