Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/129133
Author(s): Klára Slezáková
Marta Oliveira
Solange Costa
Josiana Vaz
Adília Fernandes
Cristina Delerue Matos
João Paulo Teixeira
Maria do Carmo Pereira
Simone Morais
Title: Firefighters exposure to fire emissions: Impact on levels of biomarkers of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and genotoxic/oxidative-effects
Issue Date: 2020-02-05
Abstract: 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 (non-smoking 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 ∑OHPAHs), 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, ∑OHPAHs 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. (c) 2019 Elsevier B.V.
Subject: Ciências do ambiente, Ciências Médicas
Environmental science, Medical sciences
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/129133
Related Information: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Prevenção e Combate a Incêndios Florestais/PCIF/SSO/0017/2018/Um painel de (bio)marcadores para a vigilância da saúde e da segurança do bombeiro/BioFirEx
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Programa de Financiamento Plurianual de Unidades de I&D/UID/EQU/00511/2019 /Projeto Estratégico do LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia/LEPABE
Document Type: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
Rights: restrictedAccess
Appears in Collections:FEUP - Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
FMUP - Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional

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