Overview

• Firefighters exhibit the highest PFAS concentrations, attributed to exposure from firefighting foam and protective gear.
• Health care workers show moderate PFAS elevations, with potential sources including surgical masks, gowns, and X-ray film.
• The study is the first to evaluate PFAS levels in health care workers, broadening the scope of occupational exposure research.
• PFAS serum levels among other essential workers declined by 6% to 17% annually over three years but remain significant.
• PFAS exposure is linked to health risks such as increased cancer rates, higher cholesterol, reduced vaccine response, and reproductive issues.