%0 Journal Article %J Int J Hyg Environ Health %D 2023 %T Silicone passive sampling used to identify novel dermal chemical exposures of firefighters and assess PPE innovations. %A Emily M Bonner %A Gavin P Horn %A Denise L Smith %A Kerber, Steve %A Kenneth W Fent %A Lane G Tidwell %A Richard P Scott %A Kaley A Adams %A Kim A Anderson %K Air Pollutants, Occupational %K Firefighters %K Humans %K Occupational Exposure %K Personal Protective Equipment %K Pilot Projects %K Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons %K Silicones %X

A plethora of chemicals are released into the air during combustion events, including a class of compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs have been implicated in increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, both of which are disease endpoints of concern in structural firefighters. Current commercially available personal protective equipment (PPE) typically worn by structural firefighters during fire responses have gaps in interfaces between the ensemble elements (e.g., hood and jacket) that allow for ingress of contaminants and dermal exposure. This pilot study aims to use silicone passive sampling to assess improvements in dermal protection afforded by a novel configuration of PPE, which incorporates a one-piece liner to eliminate gaps in two critical interfaces between pieces of gear. The study compared protection against parent and alkylated PAHs between the one-piece liner PPE and the standard configuration of PPE with traditional firefighting jacket and pants. Mannequins (n = 16) dressed in the PPE ensembles were placed in a Fireground Exposure Simulator for 10 min, and exposed to smoke from a combusting couch. Silicone passive samplers were placed underneath PPE at vulnerable locations near interfaces in standard PPE, and in the chamber air, to measure PAHs and calculate the dermal protection provided by both types of PPE. Silicone passive sampling methodology and analyses using gas chromatography with mass-spectrometry proved to be well-suited for this intervention study, allowing for the calculation and comparison of worker protection factors for 51 detected PAHs. Paired comparisons of the two PPE configurations found greater sum 2-3 ring PAH exposure underneath the standard PPE than the intervention PPE at the neck and chest, and at the chest for 4-7 ring PAHs (respective p-values: 0.00113, 0.0145, and 0.0196). Mean worker protection factors of the intervention PPE were also greater than the standard PPE for 98% of PAHs at the neck and chest. Notably, the intervention PPE showed more than 30 times the protection compared to the standard PPE against two highly carcinogenic PAHs, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and benzo[c]fluorene. Nine of the detected PAHs in this study have not been previously reported in fireground exposure studies, and 26 other chemicals (not PAHs) were detected using a large chemical screening method on a subset of the silicone samplers. Silicone passive sampling appears to be an effective means for measuring dermal exposure reduction to fireground smoke, providing evidence in this study that reducing gaps in PPE interfaces could be further pursued as an intervention to reduce dermal exposure to PAHs, among other chemicals.

%B Int J Hyg Environ Health %V 248 %P 114095 %8 2023 Mar %G eng %R 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114095 %0 Journal Article %J Int J Environ Res Public Health %D 2022 %T Associating Increased Chemical Exposure to Hurricane Harvey in a Longitudinal Panel Using Silicone Wristbands. %A Samantha Samon %A Diana Rohlman %A Lane G Tidwell %A Peter D Hoffman %A Abiodun O Oluyomi %A Kim A Anderson %K Cyclonic Storms %K Floods %K Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry %K Humans %K Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons %K Silicones %X

Hurricane Harvey was associated with flood-related damage to chemical plants and oil refineries, and the flooding of hazardous waste sites, including 13 Superfund sites. As clean-up efforts began, concerns were raised regarding the human health impact of possible increased chemical exposure resulting from the hurricane and subsequent flooding. Personal sampling devices in the form of silicone wristbands were deployed to a longitudinal panel of individuals = 99) within 45 days of the hurricane and again one year later in the Houston metropolitan area. Using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, each wristband was screened for 1500 chemicals and analyzed for 63 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Chemical exposure levels found on the wristbands were generally higher post-Hurricane Harvey. In the 1500 screen, 188 chemicals were detected, 29 were detected in at least 30% of the study population, and of those, 79% ( = 23) were found in significantly higher concentrations ( < 0.05) post-Hurricane Harvey. Similarly, in PAH analysis, 51 chemicals were detected, 31 were detected in at least 30% of the study population, and 39% ( = 12) were found at statistically higher concentrations ( < 0.05) post-Hurricane Harvey. This study indicates that there were increased levels of chemical exposure after Hurricane Harvey in the Houston metropolitan area.

%B Int J Environ Res Public Health %V 19 %8 2022 05 30 %G eng %N 11 %R 10.3390/ijerph19116670 %0 Journal Article %J J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol %D 2022 %T Chemical exposures assessed via silicone wristbands and endogenous plasma metabolomics during pregnancy. %A Brett T Doherty %A McRitchie, Susan L %A Pathmasiri, Wimal W %A Stewart, Delisha A %A Kirchner, David %A Kim A Anderson %A Gui, Jiang %A Madan, Juliette C %A Hoen, Anne G %A Sumner, Susan J %A Margaret R Karagas %A Megan E Romano %K Cohort Studies %K Female %K Humans %K Metabolome %K Metabolomics %K Pregnancy %K Prospective Studies %K Silicones %X

BACKGROUND: Metabolomics is a promising method to investigate physiological effects of chemical exposures during pregnancy, with the potential to clarify toxicological mechanisms, suggest sensitive endpoints, and identify novel biomarkers of exposures.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the influence of chemical exposures on the maternal plasma metabolome during pregnancy.

METHODS: Data were obtained from participants (n = 177) in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study, a prospective pregnancy cohort. Chemical exposures were assessed via silicone wristbands worn for one week at ~13 gestational weeks. Metabolomic features were assessed in plasma samples obtained at ~24-28 gestational weeks via the Biocrates AbsoluteIDQ® p180 kit and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Associations between chemical exposures and plasma metabolomics were investigated using multivariate modeling.

RESULTS: Chemical exposures predicted 11 (of 226) and 23 (of 125) metabolomic features in Biocrates and NMR, respectively. The joint chemical exposures did not significantly predict pathway enrichment, though some individual chemicals were associated with certain amino acids and related metabolic pathways. For example, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide was associated with the amino acids glycine, L-glutamic acid, L-asparagine, and L-aspartic acid and enrichment of the ammonia recycling pathway.

SIGNIFICANCE: This study contributes evidence to the potential effects of chemical exposures during pregnancy upon the endogenous maternal plasma metabolome.

%B J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol %V 32 %P 259-267 %8 2022 Mar %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1038/s41370-021-00394-6 %0 Journal Article %J J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol %D 2022 %T Determining chemical air equivalency using silicone personal monitors. %A Steven G O'Connell %A Kim A Anderson %A Epstein, Marc I %K Air Pollutants %K Environmental Monitoring %K Humans %K Silicones %K Volatile Organic Compounds %X

BACKGROUND: Silicone personal samplers are increasingly being used to measure chemical exposures, but many of these studies do not attempt to calculate environmental concentrations.

OBJECTIVE: Using measurements of silicone wristband uptake of organic chemicals from atmospheric exposure, create log K and k predictive models based on empirical data to help develop air equivalency calculations for both volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds.

METHODS: An atmospheric vapor generator and a custom exposure chamber were used to measure the uptake of organic chemicals into silicone wristbands under simulated indoor conditions. Log K models were evaluated using repeated k-fold cross-validation. Air equivalency was compared between best-performing models.

RESULTS: Log K and log k estimates calculated from uptake data were used to build predictive models from boiling point (BP) and other parameters (all models: R = 0.70-0.94). The log K models were combined with published data and refined to create comprehensive and effective predictive models (R: 0.95-0.97). Final estimates of air equivalency using novel BP models correlated well over an example dataset (Spearman r = 0.984) across 5-orders of magnitude (<0.05 to >5000 ng/L).

SIGNIFICANCE: Data from silicone samplers can be translated into air equivalent concentrations that better characterize environmental concentrations associated with personal exposures and allow direct comparisons to regulatory levels.

%B J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol %V 32 %P 268-279 %8 2022 03 %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1038/s41370-021-00332-6 %0 Journal Article %J Environ Int %D 2022 %T Silicone wristbands as personal passive sampling devices: Current knowledge, recommendations for use, and future directions. %A Samantha Samon %A Stephanie C Hammel %A Heather M Stapleton %A Kim A Anderson %K Biomarkers %K Environmental Monitoring %K Knowledge %K Silicones %X

Personal chemical exposure assessment is necessary to determine the frequency and magnitude of individual chemical exposures, especially since chemicals present in everyday environments may lead to adverse health outcomes. In the last decade, silicone wristbands have emerged as a new chemical exposure assessment tool and have since been utilized for assessing personal exposure to a wide range of chemicals in a variety of populations. Silicone wristbands can be powerful tools for quantifying personal exposure to chemical mixtures in a single sample, associating exposure with health outcomes, and potentially overcoming some of the challenges associated with quantifying the chemical exposome. However, as their popularity grows, it is crucial that they are used in the appropriate context and within the limits of the technology. This review serves as a guide for researchers interested in utilizing silicone wristbands as a personal exposure assessment tool. Along with briefly discussing the passive sampling theory behind silicone wristbands, this review performs an in-depth comparison of wristbands to other common exposure assessment tools, including biomarkers of exposure measured in biospecimens, and evaluates their utility in exposure assessments and epidemiological studies. Finally, this review includes recommendations for utilizing silicone wristbands to evaluate personal chemical exposure and provides suggestions on what research is needed to recognize silicone wristbands as a premier chemical exposure assessment tool.

%B Environ Int %V 169 %P 107339 %8 2022 Nov %G eng %R 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107339 %0 Journal Article %J Front Public Health %D 2020 %T Assessment of Multipollutant Exposures During Pregnancy Using Silicone Wristbands. %A Brett T Doherty %A Pearce, John L %A Kim A Anderson %A Margaret R Karagas %A Megan E Romano %K Cohort Studies %K Environmental Monitoring %K Female %K Humans %K New Hampshire %K Pregnancy %K Prospective Studies %K Silicones %X

Silicone wristbands can assess multipollutant exposures in a non-invasive and minimally burdensome manner, which may be suitable for use among pregnant women. We investigated silicone wristbands as passive environmental samplers in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study, a prospective pregnancy cohort. We used wristbands to assess exposure to a broad range of organic chemicals, identified multipollutant exposure profiles using self-organizing maps (SOMs), and assessed temporal consistency and determinants of exposures during pregnancy. Participants ( = 255) wore wristbands for 1 week at 12 gestational weeks. Of 1,530 chemicals assayed, 199 were detected in at least one wristband and 16 were detected in >60% of wristbands. A median of 23 (range: 12,37) chemicals were detected in each wristband, and chemicals in commerce and personal care products were most frequently detected. A subset of participants (=20) wore a second wristband at 24 gestational weeks, and concentrations of frequently detected chemicals were moderately correlated between time points (median intraclass correlation: 0.22; range: 0.00,0.69). Women with higher educational attainment had fewer chemicals detected in their wristbands and the total number of chemicals detected varied seasonally. Triphenyl phosphate concentrations were positively associated with nail polish use, and benzophenone concentrations were highest in summer. No clear associations were observed with other relations, including certain behaviors, season, and socioeconomic factors. SOM analyses revealed 12 profiles, ranging from 2 to 149 participants, captured multipollutant exposure profiles observed in this cohort. The most common profile ( = 149) indicated that 58% of participants experienced relatively low exposures to frequently detected chemicals. Less common ( ≥ 10) and rare ( < 10) profiles were characterized by low to moderate exposures to most chemicals and very high and/or very low exposure to a subset of chemicals. Certain covariates varied across SOM profile membership; for example, relative to women in the most common profile who had low exposures to most chemicals, women in the profile with elevated exposure to galaxolide and benzyl benzoate were younger, more likely to be single, and more likely to report nail polish use. Our study illustrates the utility of silicone wristbands for measurement of multipollutant exposures in sensitive populations, including pregnant women.

%B Front Public Health %V 8 %P 547239 %8 2020 %G eng %R 10.3389/fpubh.2020.547239 %0 Journal Article %J Environ Sci Technol %D 2019 %T Silicone Pet Tags Associate Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-isopropyl) Phosphate Exposures with Feline Hyperthyroidism. %A Carolyn M Poutasse %A Julie Herbstman %A Mark E Peterson %A Jana Gordon %A Peter Soboroff %A Darrell Holmes %A Dezere Gonzalez %A Lane G Tidwell %A Kim A Anderson %K Animals %K Cats %K Flame Retardants %K Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers %K Hyperthyroidism %K New York %K Oregon %K Organophosphates %K Phosphates %K Silicones %X

Feline hyperthyroidism is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine-related disease among senior and geriatric housecats, but the causes remain unknown. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds with thyroid targets, such as flame retardants (FRs), may contribute to disease development. Silicone passive sampling devices, or pet tags, quantitatively assessed the bioavailable FR exposures of 78 cats (≥7 y) in New York and Oregon using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pet tags were analyzed for 36 polybrominated diphenyl ethers, six organophosphate esters (OPEs), and two alternative brominated FRs. In nonhyperthyroid cats, serum free thyroxine (fT), total T (TT), total triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were compared with FR concentrations. Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-isopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) concentrations were higher in hyperthyroid pet tags in comparison to nonhyperthyroid pet tags (adjusted odds ratio, < 0.07; Mantel-Cox, < 0.02). Higher TDCIPP concentrations were associated with air freshener use in comparison to no use ( < 0.01), residences built since 2005 compared to those pre-1989 ( < 0.002), and cats preferring to spend time on upholstered furniture in comparison to no preference ( < 0.05). Higher TDCIPP concentrations were associated with higher fT and TT concentrations ( < 0.05). This study provides proof-of-concept data for the use of silicone pet tags with companion animals and further indicates that bioavailable TDCIPP exposures are associated with feline hyperthyroidism.

%B Environ Sci Technol %V 53 %P 9203-9213 %8 2019 Aug 06 %G eng %N 15 %R 10.1021/acs.est.9b02226 %0 Journal Article %J Environ Pollut %D 2018 %T Environmental and individual PAH exposures near rural natural gas extraction. %A Paulik, L Blair %A Kevin A Hobbie %A Diana Rohlman %A Brian W Smith %A Richard P Scott %A Laurel D Kincl %A Erin N Haynes %A Kim A Anderson %K Air Pollutants %K Air Pollution %K Environmental Exposure %K Environmental Monitoring %K Humans %K Linear Models %K Natural Gas %K Oil and Gas Fields %K Petroleum %K Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons %K Pyrenes %K Silicones %K Tandem Mass Spectrometry %X

Natural gas extraction (NGE) has expanded rapidly in the United States in recent years. Despite concerns, there is little information about the effects of NGE on air quality or personal exposures of people living or working nearby. Recent research suggests NGE emits polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into air. This study used low-density polyethylene passive samplers to measure concentrations of PAHs in air near active (n = 3) and proposed (n = 2) NGE sites. At each site, two concentric rings of air samplers were placed around the active or proposed well pad location. Silicone wristbands were used to assess personal PAH exposures of participants (n = 19) living or working near the sampling sites. All samples were analyzed for 62 PAHs using GC-MS/MS, and point sources were estimated using the fluoranthene/pyrene isomer ratio. ∑PAH was significantly higher in air at active NGE sites (Wilcoxon rank sum test, p < 0.01). PAHs in air were also more petrogenic (petroleum-derived) at active NGE sites. This suggests that PAH mixtures at active NGE sites may have been affected by direct emissions from petroleum sources at these sites. ∑PAH was also significantly higher in wristbands from participants who had active NGE wells on their properties than from participants who did not (Wilcoxon rank sum test, p < 0.005). There was a significant positive correlation between ∑PAH in participants' wristbands and ∑PAH in air measured closest to participants' homes or workplaces (simple linear regression, p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that living or working near an active NGE well may increase personal PAH exposure. This work also supports the utility of the silicone wristband to assess personal PAH exposure.

%B Environ Pollut %V 241 %P 397-405 %8 2018 Oct %G eng %R 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.05.010 %0 Journal Article %J Environ Sci Technol %D 2014 %T Response to comment on "Silicone wristbands as personal passive samplers". %A Steven G O'Connell %A Susan Carozza %A Nancy I Kerkvliet %A Kim A Anderson %K Environmental Monitoring %K Environmental Pollutants %K Humans %K Occupational Exposure %K Silicones %B Environ Sci Technol %V 48 %P 8927 %8 08/2014 %G eng %N 15 %R 10.1021/es503177x