Environmental Chemicals Altered in Association With Deployment for High Risk Areas

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Matthew Smith, Emory University; Karan Uppal, Emory University; Douglas Walker, Emory University; Mark J. Utell, University of Rochester; Philip K. Hopke, University of Rochester; Timothy M. Mallon, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Pamela L. Krahl, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Patricia Rohrbeck, Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center; Young-Mi Go, Emory University; Dean Jones, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-12-01
• Publisher: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: 2019
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001647
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 12
• Start Page: S15
• End Page: S24
• Grant/Funding Information: This public health surveillance project was supported by funding from the US Department of Defense 306889-1.00-64239, and National Institute of Health (award R01 ES023485, P30 ES019776 and S10 OD 018006).
• Keywords: burn-pits; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; exposure biomonitoring; Science & Technology; PESTICIDE EXPOSURE; SURVEILLANCE; HIGH-RESOLUTION METABOLOMICS; BIOMARKERS; AIRBORNE DIOXINS; environmental toxicology; exposome; DEFENSE SERUM REPOSITORY; HEALTH; POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS; PYRIDOSTIGMINE BROMIDE; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; METABOLITES
• Research Categories: Environmental Sciences; Health Sciences, Toxicology; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Objective:A study was conducted using serum samples and high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) to test for changes in abundance of environmental chemicals in deployment in high-risk areas (Balad, Iraq; Bagram, Afghanistan).Methods:Pre and Post-deployment serum samples for deployment (cases) and matched controls stationed domestically were analyzed by HRM and bioinformatics for the relative abundance of 271 environmental chemicals.Results:Of the 271 chemicals, 153 were measurable in at least 80% of the samples in one of the pre- or post-deployment groups. Several pesticides and other chemicals were modestly elevated post-deployment in the Control as well as the Bagram and Balad samples. Similarly, small decreases were seen for some chemicals.Conclusion:These results using serum samples show that for the 271 environmental chemicals studied, 56% were detected and small differences occurred with deployment to high-risk areas.