Biomonitoring of Minnesota Firefighters Exposed to Prolonged Metal Recycling Yard Fire

A metal recycling facility scrapyard fire that burned for four days continuously in February 2020 in rural Minnesota resulted in firefighters from around Minnesota to mobilize and aid. Combusted material included cars, refrigerators, metals, glass, foam, insulation. Urine, blood and serum specimens were collected one day later. Parameters collected included: CBC with differential, BMP, blood heavy metals, urine heavy metals, and serum heavy metals. This massive and prolonged industrial fire provided an opportunity for biomonitoring of hazardous, and unique, exposures acutely, in concordance with concerns raised by the employees at risk. Initial analysis of these results did not find evidence of acute concern regarding the biomonitoring results. However, some of these results may portend the potential for long-term consequences such as the development of occupational cancers, especially if there was recurrent exposure in prior or proceeding fires.