Occupational exposure to wildland firefighting and its effects on systemic DNA damage

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Medicine
• Molecular Toxicology

Background:

• Portugal faces severe wildland fires, exposing firefighters to harmful pollutants.
• Occupational exposure in firefighting is linked to increased disease risk, including cancer.
• Biological mechanisms underlying these health risks require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in early effect biomarkers in wildland firefighters after a real wildfire event.
• To investigate the relationship between exposure to pollutants and genetic damage.
• To provide mechanistic data for improving firefighter health and safety.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study involving 59 wildland firefighters.
• Collected blood and urine samples pre- and post-wildfire season.
• Assessed primary DNA damage, oxidative DNA damage, and DNA double-strand breaks (γH2AX).
• Quantified urinary hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (OHPAHs) and metal(loid)s.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in primary DNA damage (22%) and oxidative DNA damage (23%) post-firefighting.
• Urinary 2-hydroxyfluorene correlated with increased oxidative DNA damage risk.
• Urinary cesium associated with increased primary and oxidative DNA damage.
• Exposure duration and breathing difficulties linked to higher primary DNA damage.

Conclusions:

• Wildland firefighting exposure induces genetic and molecular changes in firefighters.
• Findings provide crucial mechanistic insights into occupational health risks.
• Results support the implementation of enhanced health and safety measures for wildland firefighters.