Citation:

Wu, C., S. Warren, D. DeMarini, C. Song, AND O. Adetona. Urinary Mutagenicity and Oxidative Status of Wildland Firefighters Working at Prescribed burns in a Midwestern U.S. Forest. OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE. BMJ / British Medical Journal Publishing Group, London, Uk, 78(5):315-322, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2020-106612

Impact/Purpose:

Wildfires and exposure to wildfire smoke by wildfire firefighters are a potential health hazard. We have published in 2019 the first study showing increased urinary mutagenicity among wildfire firefighters fighting a prescribed burn (in South Carolina). The present study extends this to wildfire firefighters fighting a prescribed burn in Ohio. This new study finds even higher levels of urinary mutagenicity among the firefighters, presumably due to the types of trees and the primarily smoldering (as opposed to flaming) nature of the smoke. Collectively, these studies show that wildfire firefighters, even those setting prescribed burns, experience a systemic exposure to mutagens, which may cause adverse health effects, including cancer.

Description:

Objective Wildland firefighters (WLFFs) experience repeated exposures to wildland fire smoke (WFS). However, studies about WLFFs remain regionally limited. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of WFS exposure on urinary mutagenicity and cell oxidation among WLFFs who work at prescribed burns in the Midwestern USA. Methods A total of 120 spot urine samples was collected from 19 firefighters right before (pre-shift), immediately after (post-shift), and the morning (next-morning) following work shifts on prescribed burn days (burn days) and regular workdays (non-burn days). The levels of urinary mutagenicity, 8-isoprostane, malondialdehyde and oxidised guanine species (Ox-GS) were measured. Linear mixed-effect models were used to determine the difference of cross-shift changes in the concentrations of urinary biomarkers. Results Post-shift levels of creatinine-corrected urinary mutagenicity and 8-isoprostane were non-significantly higher than pre-shift levels (1.16× and 1.64×; p=0.09 and 0.07) on burn days. Creatinine-corrected Ox-GS levels increased significantly in next-morning samples following WFS exposure (1.62×, p=0.03). A significant difference in cross-shift changes between burn and non-burn days was observed in 8-isoprostane (2.64×, p=0.03) and Ox-GS (3.00×, p=0.02). WLFFs who contained the fire (performed holding tasks) had a higher pre-morning to next-morning change in urinary mutagenicity compared with those who were lighting fires during the prescribed burns (1.56×, p=0.03). Conclusions Compared with the other regions, WLFFs who worked in Midwestern forests had an elevated urinary mutagenicity and systemic oxidative changes associated with WFS exposure at prescribed burns.

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