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    Differential Metabolite Expressions in Firefighters Induced by Fireground Exposure: A Comparative Metabolomics Analysis

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    Name:
    azu_etd_22097_sip1_m.pdf
    Embargo:
    2025-10-19
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    3.632Mb
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    Author
    Liu, Tuo
    Issue Date
    2025
    Keywords
    cancer risk
    fire exposure
    firefighter
    metabolomics
    Advisor
    Furlong, Melissa
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Publisher
    The University of Arizona.
    Rights
    Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction, presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
    Embargo
    Release after 10/19/2025
    Abstract
    Firefighters are regularly exposed to known or probable carcinogens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, formaldehyde, phthalates, and other harmful substances. This exposure occurs mainly through inhalation of smoke released during fire events and dermal exposure. Consequently, firefighters face a higher risk of selected cancers, such as bladder cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified firefighters' occupational exposure as carcinogenic to humans, but there is still a lack of mechanistic evidence on what and how fireground exposure elevates cancer risks and the relationship between fireground exposure and metabolite expression in humans remains poorly understood. Research is also limited regarding the differences between wildland-urban interface (WUI) firefighting and structure fires concerning the biological response in firefighters. Additionally, there is a need to understand how women firefighters respond differently to fireground exposure compared to men firefighters. To address these gaps, we bring together three projects involving male and women firefighters, exposed to various types of fires. Powered by the high-resolution metabolomics pipeline and the high-resolution liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) platform, these projects aim to evaluate the impact of fireground exposure on firefighters' metabolisms, together with other important factors for firefighters: Project 1 assesses changes in the urinary metabolome by Hispanic ethnicity among male firefighters respond to structure fires. Prior to project 1, we developed an analytical pipeline for urine-based metabolomics, which was applied to investigate the effect of fireground exposure (prior analysis) and ethnicity (project 1) on metabolome as disparity in cancer risk has been observed among Hispanic and non-Hispanic firefighters. Two publications have been produced from project 1, titled “Evaluating changes in firefighter urinary metabolomes after structural fires: an untargeted, high-resolution approach” and “Differential metabolic profiles by Hispanic ethnicity among male Tucson firefighters”. Project 2 assesses changes in the urinary metabolome by fireground exposure in male firefighters responding to WUI fires. WUI fires differ from structure fires in that they introduce a much more complex exposure matrix due to the involvement of both wildland biomass and built materials. We also tried to compare the metabolic responses across different fire types, looking for unique and shared biological responses that might understand prevalent conditions among these firefighters. One manuscript has been produced based on project 2 which is being peer reviewed as of the time of dissertation process. Project 3 assesses changes in the urinary metabolome by training fire exposures in women firefighters. Project 3 investigates metabolic responses to training fire exposures among women firefighters, differing from previous projects in both exposure matrix and population. Although training fires are resembling structure fires regarding burning materials, they are intrinsically different in fire intensity and participants activities. We also compared metabolic responses by fire exposure across two populations (genders).
    Type
    text
    Electronic Dissertation
    Degree Name
    Ph.D.
    Degree Level
    doctoral
    Degree Program
    Graduate College
    Public Health
    Degree Grantor
    University of Arizona
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