Author(s): Esteves, Filipa ; Madureira, Joana ; Pires, Joana ; Teixeira, João Paulo ; Costa, Solange
Date: 2023
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/8688
Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Nacional de Saúde
Subject(s): Wildland Fires; Firefighters; Occupational Exposure; Biomonitoring; Ar e Saúde Ocupacional
Climate change and global warming have contributed to the rise of forest fires across the globe. The proximity of firefighters to wildfires exposes them to a complex mixture of pollutants. In June 2022, occupational exposure as a firefighter was classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, up to date, very few studies have been focused on the relationship between wildland firefighting occupational exposure and health outcomes. Bio4Fox study aims to characterize wildland firefighters’ exposure in a pre- and during a wildfire season to identify a set of appropriate (bio)markers for the surveillance of wildland firefighters’ health. We aim to enroll around 200 northern Portuguese wildland firefighters. Here we present some preliminary data characterizing the exposure of these firefighters in the fire stations before the wildfire season. Around 172 northern Portuguese wildland firefighters (141 males and 31 females; mean age of 37.5± 10.9) recruited before the wildfire season of 2021 were enrolled in this analysis. Information on sociodemographic data, lifestyle and occupational exposure was obtained via a comprehensive questionnaire. Genetic instability was assessed in buccal cells through the Buccal Mucosa Cytome (BMCyt) assay. Lower frequencies of micronuclei and pycnotic cells (cell death biomarker) were observed among firefighters taking vitamin supplements and consuming vegetables daily, respectively (p<0.05). Being part of Permanent Intervention Teams (full-time firefighters) or part of the Command team, contributed to higher frequencies of cells with condensed chromatin (cell death marker) and karyolitic cells, respectively (p<0.05). Our findings will furnish a better characterization of Portuguese wildland firefighters in a pre- wildfire season. We expect to contribute to the implementation of health and safety measures highly needed in this sector.
