About

Melissa Furlong is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Arizona. She is an environmental epidemiologist who studies the chronic health effects of environmental contaminants, with a particular focus on pesticides and neurological outcomes. Dr. Furlong holds a PhD in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master’s in Public Policy from Duke University, and a B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience from Duke University. She has received a Pathway to Independence Award from NIEHS (K99/R00). Her primary research interests include developing and implementing novel approaches in big data to investigate associations between environmental contaminants and longitudinal chronic health outcomes, especially neurological health. She employs various methodological approaches, including -OMICs technologies such as metabolomics and epigenomics, and works on linking large exposure databases with state-wide health outcomes databases, including Medicaid. Collaborating with researchers in Atmospheric Sciences and Geography, she is developing geo-spatial models of atmospheric pesticide dispersions in Arizona to estimate exposure during critical developmental windows. Additionally, she uses metabolomic and epigenetic approaches to study long-term, subclinical health effects of occupational and environmental exposures in firefighters.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Internal medicine
• Ecology
• Computer Security
• Computer Science
• Environmental health
• Pathology
• Oncology
• Demography
• Neuroscience
• Environmental science
• Genetics
• Environmental protection

Selected publications

• Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide exposures during preconception and pregnancy and associations with Apgar scores in the Az-PEAR study (2006–2020)

  Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology · 2026-03-13

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Association between parental firefighting status and adverse birth outcomes in Arizona: a cross-sectional study

  Occupational and Environmental Medicine · 2026-03-01

  article

  BACKGROUND: Firefighters are continuously exposed to hazardous conditions including smoke, chemicals, stress, long work shifts and exhaustion, which may lead to a higher risk for chronic conditions and reproductive health issues. However, there is limited research looking at the association between parental firefighting with adverse birth outcomes. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether female or male firefighting was associated with adverse birth outcomes. METHODS: Arizona birth certificates for the years 2006-2013 were used to compare firefighters with teachers, law enforcement officers and all other occupations while stratifying by sex. Logistic regression models estimated ORs and 95% CIs. RESULTS: We included 720 686 births, 5490 paternal firefighters and 376 maternal firefighters. Maternal firefighting was associated with increased odds of preterm birth compared with teachers (OR: 1.46, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.97) and all other occupations (OR: 1.41, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.88). Higher odds for neonatal intensive care unit admission were observed when compared with teachers (OR: 1.77, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.48), law enforcement officers (OR: 1.74, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.81) and all other occupations (OR: 1.84, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.56). Paternal firefighting was statistically significantly associated with decreased caesarean section and low birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: Female firefighters may have higher odds of adverse birth outcomes. Further research should aim on understanding the biological mechanism behind these associations and ways to mitigate the risk in this population.

  PublisherDOI

• Incident endometriosis diagnosis and AMH: how surgical staging and typology relate to serum AMH levels

  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2026-01-08 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Predictors of serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels among U.S. career firefighters

  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine · 2026-01-19

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: To identify potential predictors of serum concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) among a cohort of U.S. firefighters. METHODS: Serum PFAS concentrations were measured in 2,056 U.S. structural firefighters between July 2023 and October 2024. Data on demographics, lifestyle behaviors, occupational exposures, and fire agency policies were collected through individual and fire agency surveys and evaluated for associations with serum PFAS concentrations. RESULTS: Plasma and/or blood donation, drinking water source, military service, post-fire on-scene decontamination, turnout gear storage and transportation, rank, using aqueous film-forming foam, and carpet in fire station living quarters were all significant predictors of at least one PFAS chemical (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both individual and departmental predictors of serum PFAS concentrations were identified. These findings can help guide the selection of PFAS exposure reduction activities by firefighters.

  PublisherDOI

• Differential metabolic profiles by training fire exposure in female firefighters

  International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health · 2026-01-30

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effets épigénétiques de la lutte contre les incendies chez les pompiers de forêt

  Archives des maladies professionnelles et de médecine du travail/Archives des maladies professionnelles et de l'environnement · 2025-10-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Longitudinal Nephrotoxic Metal Exposure in a Cohort of Farm Workers in Sonora, Mexico

  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine · 2025-08-19

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: Metal exposure among farmworkers along the US-Mexico border is understudied, despite links between certain metals and kidney injury or disease. We assessed seasonal metal exposure in agricultural workers in Sonora, Mexico, compared to office workers and other populations. METHODS: Adult male agricultural and office workers provided urine samples and demographic data at the start and end of the work season. Urine was analyzed for specific gravity, creatinine, and metal(loid) concentrations. RESULTS: Agricultural workers had significantly higher urinary arsenic, lead, nickel, and uranium than office workers. Uranium increased over time, whereas arsenic, lead, and nickel declined. Urinary metal levels exceeded those in NHANES Mexican Americans, with cadmium levels similar to other farmworker populations but higher arsenic and uranium. CONCLUSIONS: Findings enhance understanding of regional exposure, support global farmworker comparisons, and inform exposure modeling, mitigation strategies, and policy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Epigenetic Modifications Associated With Wildland–Urban Interface (<scp>WUI</scp>) Firefighting

  Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis · 2025-01-01 · 9 citations

  articleOpen access

  Wildland-urban interface (WUI) firefighting involves exposure to burning vegetation, structures, and other human-made hazards, often without respiratory protection. Response activities can last for long periods of time, spanning multiple days or weeks. Epigenetic modifications, including microRNA (miRNA) expression and DNA methylation, are responsive to toxicant exposures and are part of the development of cancers and other diseases. Epigenetic modifications have not been studied in relation to WUI fires. Firefighters (n = 99) from southern California, including 79 firefighters who responded to at least one WUI fire, provided blood samples at baseline and approximately 10 months later. We quantified the relative abundance of 800 miRNAs in blood samples using the nCounter Human v3 miRNA expression panel and blood leukocyte DNA methylation throughout the genome via the Infinium EPIC array. We used linear mixed models to compare the expression of each miRNA across time and DNA methylation at each locus, adjusting for potential confounders. In the miRNA analysis among all firefighters, 65 miRNAs were significantly different at follow-up compared to baseline at a false discovery rate of 5%. Results were similar when restricted to firefighters with a recorded WUI fire exposure during the interim period, although only 50 were significant. Expression of miRNA hsa-miR-518c-3p, a tumor suppressor, was significantly associated with WUI fire response (fold change 0.77, 95% CI = [0.69, 0.87]). In the DNA methylation analysis, no statistically significant changes over time were identified. In summary, WUI fire exposures over a wildfire season altered miRNA expression but did not substantially impact DNA methylation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study: Protocol for a Longitudinal Occupational Cohort Study

  JMIR Research Protocols · 2025-03-07 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Firefighters are at an increased risk of cancer and other health conditions compared with the general population. However, the specific exposures and mechanisms contributing to these risks are not fully understood. This information is critical to formulate and test protective interventions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS) is to conduct community-engaged research with the fire service to advance the evaluation and reduction of firefighter exposures, along with understanding and mitigating effects leading to an increased risk of cancer and other health conditions. This involves establishing a long-term (>30 years) firefighter multicenter prospective cohort study. METHODS: The structure of the FFCCS includes a fire service oversight and planning board to provide guidance and foster communication between researchers and fire organizations; a data coordinating center overseeing survey data collection and data management; an exposure assessment center working with quantitative exposure data to construct a firefighter job exposure matrix; and a biomarker analysis center, including a biorepository. Together, the centers evaluate the association between firefighter exposures and toxic health effects. Firefighter research liaisons are involved in all phases of the research. The FFCCS research design primarily uses a set of core and project-specific survey questions accompanied by a collection of biological samples (blood and urine) for the analysis of biomarkers of exposure and effect. Data and samples are collected upon entry into the study, with subsequent collection after eligible exposures, and at intervals (eg, 1-2 years) after enrollment. FFCCS data collection and analysis have been developed to evaluate unique exposures for specific firefighter groups; cancer risks; and end points in addition to cancer, such as reproductive outcomes. Recruitment is carried out with coordination from partnering fire departments and eligible participants, including active career and volunteer firefighters in the United States. RESULTS: The FFCCS protocol development was first funded by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2016, with enrollment beginning in February 2018. As of September 2024, >6200 participants from >275 departments across 31 states have enrolled, including recruit and incumbent firefighters. Biological samples have been analyzed for measures of exposure and effect. Specific groups enrolled in the FFCCS include career and volunteer structural firefighters, women firefighters, trainers, fire investigators, wildland firefighters, firefighters responding to wildland-urban interface fires, and airport firefighters. Peer-reviewed published results include measurement of exposures and the toxic effects of firefighting exposure. Whenever possible, research results are provided back to individual participants. CONCLUSIONS: The FFCCS is a unique, community-engaged, multicenter prospective cohort study focused on the fire service. Study results contribute to the evaluation of exposures, effects, and preventive interventions across multiple sectors of the US fire service, with broad implications nationally. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/70522.

  PublisherDOI

• Differential metabolic profiles by Hispanic ethnicity among male Tucson firefighters

  Metabolomics · 2025-03-06 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  INTRODUCTION: Firefighters face regular exposure to known and probable human carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, and formaldehyde, leading to an increased risk of various cancers compared to the general population. Hispanic and black firefighters are at increased risk of additional cancers not elevated in non-Hispanic white firefighters, yet biological pathways underlying these differences are unknown. OBJECTIVES: The study objectives were to evaluate differences in the urinary metabolome between Hispanic and non-Hispanic firefighters, pre-and post-fireground exposure. METHODS: To investigate the metabolic patterns, we employed a comprehensive metabolomics pipeline that leveraged liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. We applied linear mixed effects regression to identify the differential metabolites at an FDR < 0.05 among 19 Hispanic and 81 non-Hispanic firefighters. We also performed overrepresentation analysis using Mummichog to identify enriched pathways at FDR < 0.05. RESULTS: Out of 175 features in HILIC(-) mode and 1847 features in RP(+) mode, we found 26 and 276 differential urinary features, respectively, when comparing Hispanic and non-Hispanic firefighters. We noted pathway enrichment in tryptophan and galactose metabolism. However, post-exposure, we did not observe differences in the metabolomic response by ethnicity despite differing fireground exposures. CONCLUSION: Dysregulation in the tryptophan and galactose pathway is an important contributor to cancer risks and may explain the increased cancer risk among Hispanic firefighters.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Prenatal Exposure to Pesticide Mixtures and Childhood ADHD

  NIH · $163k · 2018–2020

Frequent coauthors

• Jeremy H. Toyn

  Bristol-Myers Squibb (United States)

  42 shared

• AS Robertson

  University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

  36 shared

• Kimberly H. Snow

  Bristol-Myers Squibb (Germany)

  36 shared

• J.-S. Wang

  36 shared

• Kimberley A. Lentz

  Bristol-Myers Squibb (United States)

  36 shared

• Lorin A. Thompson

  Wadsworth Center

  36 shared

• F. Berisha

  GlaxoSmithKline (United States)

  36 shared

• Dmitry Zuev

  Institute of Cytology and Genetics

  36 shared

Awards & honors

• Pathway to Independence Award from NIEHS (K99/R00)