biostudies-literatureUnknownJung AMNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesFederal Emergency Management AgencyAssistance to FirefightersExcretion of toxicants accumulated from firefighter exposures through breastmilk represents a potential hazard. We investigated if firefighting exposures could increase the concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation in excreted breastmilk. Firefighters and non-firefighters collected breastmilk samples prior to any firefighting responses (baseline) and at 2, 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours after a structural fire (firefighters only). Five PBDE analytes (BDEs 15, 28, 47, 99, and 153) detected in at least 90% of samples were summed for analyses. The AhR in vitro DR CALUX® bioassay assessed the mixture of dioxin-like compounds and toxicity from breastmilk extracts. Baseline PBDEs and AhR response were compared between firefighters and non-firToxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicologykfad017https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10109531biostudies-literatureExcretion of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and AhR activation in breastmilk among firefighters.PMC10109531T32 ES007091EMW-2019-FP-00526EMW-2015-FP-00848P30 ES006694White MHoppe-Jones CLittau SRBurgess JLBeitel SCJung AMBillheimer DGutenkunst SLJahnke SACherrington NfalseExcretion of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and AhR activation in breastmilk among firefighters.Excretion of toxicants accumulated from firefighter exposures through breastmilk represents a potential hazard. We investigated if firefighting exposures could increase the concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation in excreted breastmilk. Firefighters and non-firefighters collected breastmilk samples prior to any firefighting responses (baseline) and at 2, 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours after a structural fire (firefighters only). Five PBDE analytes (BDEs 15, 28, 47, 99, and 153) detected in at least 90% of samples were summed for analyses. The AhR in vitro DR CALUX® bioassay assessed the mixture of dioxin-like compounds and toxicity from breastmilk extracts. Baseline PBDEs and AhR response were compared between firefighters and non-fir2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Feb2025-05-18T11:12:28.453Z2025-05-18T11:12:28.453ZS-EPMC101095313685672910.1093/toxsci/kfad017