Metabolic changes associated with PFAS exposure in firefighters: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Occupational exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is a concern for aviation firefighters.
• Previous studies indicate significantly higher PFAS levels in senior firefighters due to prolonged exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between occupational PFAS exposure and metabolic profiles in aviation firefighters.
• To compare metabolic differences and their correlations with PFAS levels across varying exposure durations.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional pilot study of 37 Australian aviation firefighters (junior and senior).
• Analysis of serum PFAS levels and associated metabolic profiles, including free fatty acids, bile acids, amino acids, lipids, and gut microbial metabolites.
• Exploration of non-monotonic dose-response relationships and confounding factors like BMI and age.

Main Results:

• Firefighting experience and serum PFAS levels were associated with significant changes in multiple metabolite classes.
• Metabolites linked to firefighting experience showed overlap with those associated with PFAS levels.
• A non-monotonic response was observed for saturated fatty acids, with differing associations in junior versus senior firefighters.

Conclusions:

• PFAS exposure may induce metabolic compensation strategies that are disrupted by high, long-term exposure.
• Serum metabolites appear to be more sensitive indicators of PFAS exposure impact than traditional clinical measurements.
• This study highlights the need for further research into PFAS effects on firefighter health.