Comparison of Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Concentrations in Incumbent and Recruit Firefighters and
Amy J Nematollahi1, Julia M Fisher, Melissa A Furlong
1From the Environmental Health Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman School of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (A.J.N., M.A.F., P.I.B., S.C.B., S.R.L., J.L.B.); BIO5 Institute, Statistics Consulting Laboratory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (J.M.F.); University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan (J.M.Go.); School of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey (J.M.Gr.); Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (A.M.C.); Tucson Fire Department, Tucson, Arizona (J.J.G.); and Sarasota County Fire Department, Sarasota, Florida (D.D.W.).
Objective:
Firefighters are occupationally exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This study objective was to compare serum PFAS concentrations in incumbent and recruit firefighters and evaluate temporal trends among recruits.
Methods:
Serum PFAS concentrations were measured in 99 incumbent and 55 recruit firefighters at enrollment in 2015-2016, with follow-up 20 to 37 months later for recruits. Linear and logistic regression and linear mixed-effects models were used for analyses. Fireground exposure impact on PFAS concentrations was investigated using adjusted linear and logistic regression models.
Results:
Incumbents had lower n-PFOA and PFNA than recruits and most PFAS significantly decreased over time among male recruits. No significant links were found between cumulative fireground exposures and PFAS concentrations.
Conclusions:
Serum PFAS concentrations were not increased in incumbent firefighters compared with recruits and were not associated with cumulative fireground exposures.
