Firefighters' Occupational Exposure in Preparation for Wildfire Season: Addressing Biological Impact

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Esteves, F (Author) Other; Klara Slezakova (Author) FEUP; Madureira, J (Author) Other; Vaz, J (Author) Other; Fernandes, A (Author) Other; Morais, S (Author) Other; Pereira, MD (Author) Other; Teixeira, JP (Author) FMUP; Carla Costa (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Toxics

Vol. 12

Final page: 201

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 1 Citation

Associated Projects

ALiCE - ALiCE - Laboratório Associado em Engenharia Química

BioFirEx - Um painel de (bio)marcadores para a vigilância da saúde e da segurança do bombeiro

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-010-860

DOI: 10.3390/toxics12030201

Abstract (EN): The characterization of wildland firefighters' occupational exposure must consider different exposures, including those at the fire station. The present study aimed to characterize the occupational exposure of 172 Northern Portuguese wildland firefighters in fire stations during the pre-wildfire season of 2021. The biological impact of estimated inhaled doses of PM10 and PM2.5 (indoor/outdoor) was accessed through a buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay in exfoliated buccal cells of a subgroup of 80 firefighters. No significant association was found between estimated inhaled doses of PM10 and PM2.5 (mean 1.73 +/- 0.43 mu g kg-1 and 0.53 +/- 0.21 mu g kg-1, respectively) and biological endpoints. However, increased frequencies of cell death parameters were found among subjects of the Permanent Intervention Teams (full-time firefighters). The intake of nutritional supplements was associated with a significant decrease in micronucleus frequencies (i.e., DNA damage or chromosome breakage). In addition, our findings showed a significantly increased frequency of cell death endpoints (i.e., nuclear fragmentation) with coffee consumption, while daily consumption of vegetables significantly decreased it (i.e., nuclear shrinkage). Our results provide data on the occupational exposure of wildland firefighters while working in fire stations during the pre-wildfire season, providing the essential baseline for further studies throughout the wildfire season.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15