Serum concentration trends and apparent half-lives of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australian firefighters

S Nilsson; K Smurthwaite; L L Aylward; M Kay; L M Toms; L King; S Marrington; C Barnes; M D Kirk; J F Mueller; J Bräunig

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114040

Serum concentration trends and apparent half-lives of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australian firefighters

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2022 Sep:246:114040. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114040. Epub 2022 Sep 23.

Authors

S Nilsson¹, K Smurthwaite², L L Aylward³, M Kay⁴, L M Toms⁵, L King⁶, S Marrington⁶, C Barnes⁷, M D Kirk², J F Mueller⁶, J Bräunig⁶

Affiliations

¹ Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: s.nilsson@uq.edu.au.
² National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Cnr of Eggleston and Mills Roads Acton, 2600, Australia.
³ Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia; Summit Toxicology, LLP, La Quinta, 92253, CA, USA.
⁴ General Practice Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Health Sciences Building, RBWH Complex, Herston, 4029, QLD, Australia.
⁵ School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, 4059, QLD, Australia.
⁶ Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, 4102, QLD, Australia.
⁷ Airservices Australia, 25 Constitution Ave, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia.

PMID: 36162311
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114040

Abstract

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent manmade compounds used in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). The extensive use of AFFF has led to widespread environmental PFAS contamination and exposures of firefighters.

Objectives: To determine PFAS blood serum concentration trends and apparent serum half-lives in firefighters after the replacement of AFFF.

Methods: Current and former employees of an Australian corporation providing firefighting services, where AFFF formulations had been used since the 1980s up until 2010, were recruited in 2018-2019 to participate in this study. Special focus was put on re-recruiting participants who had provided blood samples five years prior (2013-2014). Participants were asked to provide a blood sample and fill in a questionnaire. Serum samples were analysed for 40 different PFASs using HP LC-MS/MS.

Results: A total of 799 participants provided blood samples in 2018-2019. Of these, 130 previously provided blood serum in 2013-2014. In 2018-2019, mean (arithmetic) serum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, 27 ng/mL), perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS, 1.7 ng/mL) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS, 14 ng/mL) were higher than the levels in the general Australian population. Serum concentrations were associated with the use of PFOS/PFHxS based AFFF. Participants who commenced service after the replacement of this foam had serum concentrations similar to those in the general population. Mean (arithmetic) individual apparent half-lives were estimated to be 5.0 years (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)), 7.8 years (PFHxS), 7.4 years (PFHpS) and 6.5 years (PFOS).

Conclusion: This study shows how workplace interventions such as replacement of AFFF can benefit employees at risk of occupational exposure.

Keywords: Biological monitoring; Firefighters; Follow-up studies; Half-life; Occupational exposure.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aerosols
Alkanesulfonic Acids*
Australia
Chromatography, Liquid
Firefighters*
Fluorocarbons*
Humans
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Fluorocarbons
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Alkanesulfonic Acids
Water
Aerosols