Inflammatory profiles, gut microbiome, and kidney function are impacted after high-fidelity firefighter training

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Health
• Physiology

Background:

• Firefighters face extreme heat, toxins, and physical stress.
• Health effects on inflammation, kidney function, and gut microbiota are unclear.
• A controlled training course can assess these occupational risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate health impacts of firefighter occupational exposures.
• To assess changes in inflammation, kidney function, and gut microbiota.
• To investigate dehydration and heat-related illness symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Collected health data, blood, and stool samples from 24 firefighters during a heat-intensive training week.
• Measured inflammation, gut permeability, kidney health, and microbiota before and after training.
• Assessed dehydration using urine specific gravity after a heat-intensive day.

Main Results:

• Most firefighters were hypertensive with heat-related symptoms and dehydration.
• Inflammation and acute kidney injury indicators increased, while estimated kidney function declined.
• Gut microbiota composition shifted, with notable changes in specific bacterial species.

Conclusions:

• The firefighter occupational environment may elevate risks for systemic inflammation.
• Increased risk for kidney disease is suggested by the study findings.
• Controlled field studies are valuable for assessing firefighter health risks.