RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Characterize objective measurements of carcinogenic exposure using passive sampling silicone-based wristbands among Dominican firefighters. METHODS: Firefighters from a metropolitan fire service in the Dominican Republic were asked to wear a silicone-based wristband during one typical 24-hour shift. A pre- and post-shift survey collected work shift characteristics. Wristbands were processed for the type and quantity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a family of known carcinogenic compounds. RESULTS: Fifteen firefighters wore a wristband, of which 73.3% responded to a fire with an average of 3.7 calls during the shift. Total PAH exposure was significantly higher among firefighters who responded to a fire versus firefighters with no fire during their shift (261 parts per billion [ppb] vs 117âppb, Pâ=â0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Silicone-based wristbands as objective passive samplers documented exposure to carcinogenic compounds during a typical 24-hour firefighter shift.
Assuntos
Poluentes Ocupacionais do Ar , Carcinógenos , Bombeiros , Exposição Ocupacional , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos , Poluentes Ocupacionais do Ar/análise , Carcinógenos/análise , República Dominicana , Monitoramento Ambiental , Humanos , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análise , SiliconesRESUMO
Guánica Bay, located in southwestern Puerto Rico, has suffered oil spills and other pollution discharges since the 1960s. Previous research showed elevated concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in coral reef and sediment. This research examined PCB concentrations in sediment and fish. Sediment and fish sampling in the bay was facilitated by community members. This study identified the second highest reported PCB level (129,300 ng/g) in sediment in the USA. Fish samples also showed elevated concentrations (1623 to 3768 ng/g), which were higher than the thresholds of safe levels of PCBs in fish for human consumption. The alarmingly high concentration of PCBs calls for proactive community engagement to bring awareness about contamination of the bay and more extensive sampling to test for the concentration of PCBs in seafood and the people of Guánica. This study also underscores the value of the involvement of local communities during sampling design aimed at identifying hot spots of contaminants.