New research to measure exposure to PFAS among construction workers

13-11-2024

By means of Karen Angelo

Construction industry workers use a variety of products, such as paints, varnishes, glues and adhesives, all of which contain hazardous per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because of their tendency to persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body. They have been linked to adverse health effects, such as kidney disease and a range of cancers.

The amount of PFAS exposure among construction workers is not yet known, but a new study aims to assess the extent and sources of PFAS exposure to inform safer industrial practices.

Assoc. Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Dhimiter Bello and Public Health Research Assoc. Prof. Anila Bello, both of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, have received a $600,000 grant from the Center for Construction Research and Training, which is funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The team will identify exposure levels among construction workers, as well as products containing the most toxic PFAS.

“This is the first study to systematically document exposure to PFAS in the construction sector,” says Anila Bello. “We will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the PFAS present in workers, the sources of exposure and the means by which PFAS enter the body.”

The research team will measure PFAS in the blood, urine and feces of hundreds of construction workers. By linking this information to the identification of PFAS in common construction products, the team will identify the most likely sources of PFAS, as well as the workers most at risk.

“Our goal is to reduce and, where possible, eliminate PFAS exposure at source and ultimately minimize health risks among those working in construction and related occupations,” says Dhimiter Bello. “This in turn is expected to reduce the number of PFAS-related occupational diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver and kidney disease.”

Working with the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) organization, the research team will recruit hundreds of workers for testing. The blood results will show which PFAS remain in the body for a long time, the urine results will show whether employees have recently been exposed to PFAS and the stool analysis will show whether PFAS have been ingested. Each of these results will paint a picture of how much PFAS entered or left the body.

Added to products because of their unique properties and strong chemical bonds, PFAS allow products to stick to surfaces, repel water and improve adhesion. While these capabilities improve the performance of building materials, they are the same properties that make them harmful to people, soil and marine life. PFAS persist in the body and in the environment, putting people at risk for kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid function, higher blood lipids, type 2 diabetes, immune system suppression, and kidney and liver damage.

To understand the source of PFAS, researchers will collect information from workers about their diet, their lifestyle and where they live. This research data helps account for non-occupational exposures, such as water sources and food contamination. Dhimiter Bello, who will test PFAS in more than 100 construction products, developed the analytical methods for quantifying PFAS in firefighting foam in a previous study. The results of that research form the basis for the transition to PFAS-free firefighting foams.

The research team will establish an advisory board that will include representatives from the union group, the construction industry, academia, NIOSH and the Center for Construction Research and Training. Once the study is complete, the team will develop guidelines to reduce PFAS exposure among workers.