PCDD, PCDF, and PCB exposure in current and former firefighters from Eastern Siberia

Toxicol Lett. 2012 Aug 13;213(1):9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.09.021. Epub 2011 Sep 29.

Abstract

The current study examines whether the occupation of firefighting contributes to exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We compared serum dioxin concentrations and congener profiles of current firefighters (n=13) with those of men who have ceased employment as firefighters (n=17) and with men employed in occupations other than firefighter (n=10). We found that compared to former or non-firefighters, current firefighters have higher levels of dioxins primarily due to the contribution of PCBs and to a lesser extent PCDFs. PCDFs were significantly higher in former firefighters compared to non-firefighters (p<0.05). Comparisons with studies performed by other investigators suggest that local environmental conditions contribute to some of the elevation of PCBs. The congeners 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzodioxin and PCB-114 were significantly higher in current firefighters when compared to former or non-firefighters. Moreover, levels of these congeners were inversely correlated with years since employed as firefighter (Spearman r=-0.610, p=0.009 and Spearman r=-0.53, p=0.03, respectively). The classes of dioxins show an overall decline with years since employed as firefighters, this decline is most evident with PCDDs (Spearman r=-0.46, p=0.06). Together, the combination of evidence supports firefighting as a source of exposure to dioxins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Benzofurans / blood*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Dioxins / blood
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Firefighters* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure* / statistics & numerical data
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / blood*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analogs & derivatives*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / blood
  • Siberia
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Dioxins
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  • 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzodioxin