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Dust Exposure and Lung Function Among Firefighters Involved in Rescue and Relief Operations After the Great East
Akane Takahashi1, Toshiya Irokawa1,2, Ritsuko Arakawa3
1Department of Occupational Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
Journal of Occupational Health
|July 9, 2026
Summary
Firefighters exposed to dust after the Great East Japan Earthquake showed no severe lung function decline. Smoking status, not dust exposure, significantly impacted lung function, indicating a need for health monitoring for rescue workers.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Medicine
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Firefighters involved in disaster rescue activities face potential exposure to various airborne contaminants.
- Assessing the impact of environmental exposures on respiratory health is crucial for protecting emergency responders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effects of dust exposure on lung function in firefighters after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE).
- To investigate factors influencing lung function changes in rescue workers.
Main Methods:
- Lung function (FEV1) was assessed annually in 42 firefighters before and after the GEJE.
- Associations between FEV1 decline and smoking, work hours, protective equipment use, and BMI were examined.
Main Results:
- A greater decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was observed in non-smokers compared to smokers.
- Smoking status was the only significant factor associated with FEV1 decline; dust exposure impact was less pronounced.
- No severe or irreversible lung function effects were attributed to dust exposure.
Conclusions:
- Dust exposure during GEJE rescue activities did not cause severe or irreversible lung function damage in firefighters.
- Temporary, minor lung function effects from dust exposure are possible.
- A specialized health management system is recommended for monitoring rescue workers' health risks during large-scale disasters.
