Prevalence and Factors Associated with Poor Respiratory Function among Firefighters Exposed to Wildfire Smoke

One of the world's biggest disasters are wildfires. The firefighting environment involves physical and respiratory risks, due the inhalation of fire smoke. This study aims to determine the respiratory function of firefighters exposed to wildfire smoke and explore the potential risk factors associated with poor respiratory function. The sample involved 53 firefighters, aged between 23 and 60 years (39.28 ± 8.71), 41 (77.40%) male and 12 (22.60%) female, who fought in wildfires. The measurement instruments used were as follows: a scale, a stadiometer, a questionnaire, a Fagerstrom test and a spirometer. Thirty-six (67.9%) firefighters showed a restrictive pattern. Firefighters fought between 1 and 9 (3.64 ± 1.97) fires and in total between 5 and 212 (62.34 ± 46.89) h. Nineteen (52.8%) firefighters, who showed a restrictive pattern, did not perform any physical exercise (p = 0.045). Twelve (70.6%) firefighters who practiced exercise and revealed a restrictive pattern trained at least 3 or less hours weekly, whilst five (29.4%) practiced more than 3 h (p = 0.030) of weekly exercise. Twenty (55.6%) firefighters with a restrictive pattern spent more than 48 h in combat (p = 0.029) and twenty-two (61.1%) did not use any respiratory protection (p = 0.011). The study data showed that occupational exposure to wildfire smoke was associated with the development of a restrictive pattern and associated factors included a sedentary lifestyle, limited duration of physical exercise, longer exposure to fire smoke and non-use of respiratory protection.