Exposure To Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons And Cardiovascular Effects In Firefighters

• Main Authors: Li, chia-wei, 李佳煒
• Other Authors: Lai, Ching-Huan​g
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/79797183085883063175

碩士 === 國防醫學院 === 公共衛生學研究所 === 100 === It is well known that firefighters may be potentially exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fire activity, especially in overhaul stage. Previous studies have shown that exposure to PAHs might result in systematic inflammation and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the evidence of this result is not enough. In our study, we aimed to explore the association between PAHs exposure and cardiovascular effect in firefighters. The study design was a cross-sectional study. Fasting blood samples and urinary samples were obtained from 212 firefighters and 94 office workers. We measured 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in urinary samples and also measured plasma biomarkers including copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1), myeloperoxidase (MPO), high sensitivity C reactive protein (Hs-CRP) and fibrinogen. Information on demographics, occupational history and life style was collected by self-administered questionnaires. We also used Framingham coronary heart risk score (FCRS) to estimate subjects’ risk of cardiovascular disease. Our study showed that the plasma Cu, Zn-SOD in exposure group was lower than controls, and plasma GPx-1 was significantly higher than controls after adjusting confounders. The CVD risk in exposure group was significantly lower than controls. However, after adjusting confounders, urinary 1-OHP was associated with increased SOD, but not associated with GPx-1, MPO, Hs-CRP, fibrinogen and CVD risk. In summary, we found that firefighters PAHs exposure affected the plasma antioxidative enzyme activity. And we found that the CVD risk was lower in exposure groups, probably because the age of the exposure group was less than the controls. Firefighter acute exposure to PAHs was borderline significant associated with SOD in plasma and it was no significant associatation with chronic CVD effects.