Fighting occupational risks among Portuguese wildland firefighters: looking at cytogenetic effects

Authors

  • F. Esteves Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health, Rua Alexandre Herculano, nº 321, 4000-055 Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal; Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9187-0279
  • K. Slezakova LEPABE-ALiCE, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
  • J. Madureira Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health, Rua Alexandre Herculano, nº 321, 4000-055 Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal; Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
  • J. Vaz CIMO, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal; SusTEC, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
  • A. Fernandes UICISA: E, Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
  • M. Carmo LEPABE-ALiCE, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
  • S. Morais REQUIMTE/LAQV-Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
  • J. P. Teixeira Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health, Rua Alexandre Herculano, nº 321, 4000-055 Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal; Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
  • S. Costa Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health, Rua Alexandre Herculano, nº 321, 4000-055 Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal; Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48797/sl.2023.56

Keywords:

Selected Oral Communication

Abstract

Background: Evidence linking wildland firefighters’ occupational exposure and health outcomes is still limited. Cytogenetic endpoints have long been applied in the surveillance of human genotoxic exposures and early effects of genotoxic carcinogens. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to clarify the exposure-induced cytogenetic effects concerning wildland firefighters’ occupational exposure at different time points (Pre-fire season and fire season). Objective: Here, we aim to evaluate the cytogenetic levels in buccal cells among a group of wildland firefighters during a Pre-fire season, considering both the i) influence of self-reported variables (e.g., lifestyle) on buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCyt) outcomes and ii) the cytogenetic damage in exfoliated buccal cells considering the estimated inhalation doses to particulate matter (PM) in non-fire work settings. Methods: A total of 176 northern Portuguese wildland firefighters (82% males; mean age of 37.5 ± 10.9) were recruited during the pre-fire season of 2021. Relevant information was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Genomic instability was assessed for 172 northern Portuguese wildland firefighters by BMCyt. PM10 and PM2.5 inhalation doses (indoor/outdoor) were estimated for a group of 80 firefighters based on methods described elsewhere [1]. Results: Some lifestyle variables (e.g., daily consumption of vegetables) shown to have a protective role on some BMCytendpoints (p<0.05), whereas others such coffee consumption or being part of Permanent Intervention Teams (full-time firefighters) presented a negative impact (p<0.05). No significant association was found between estimated inhaled doses of PM10 and PM2.5 (mean 1.73 ± 0.43 µg kg-1 and 0.53 ± 0.21 µg kg-1, correspondingly) and BMCyt endpoints. Conclusions: The characterization of a population is a very important step to have a broad perspective of the potential risk factors that may influence the studied endpoints in further analysis. Surveillance based on (bio)monitoring programs may be a crucial tool to identify firefighters at high risk for developing adverse health outcomes.

References

1. Slezakova, K., et al., Indoor particulate pollution in fitness centres with emphasis on ultrafine particles. Environ Pollut 2018, 233, 180-193.

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Published

2023-04-21

How to Cite

Esteves, F., Slezakova, K., Madureira, J., Vaz, J., Fernandes, A., Carmo, M., Morais, S., Teixeira, J. P., & Costa, S. (2023). Fighting occupational risks among Portuguese wildland firefighters: looking at cytogenetic effects. Scientific Letters, 1(Sup 1). https://doi.org/10.48797/sl.2023.56

Issue

Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2023)

Section

Oral Communications

License

Copyright (c) 2023 F. Esteves, K. Slezakova, J. Madureira, J. Vaz, A. Fernandes, M. Carmo, S. Morais, J. P. Teixeira, S. Costa

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