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Fire Emissions: Exposure Data and Potential Health Risks for Firefighting Forces and the General Population

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 8033

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Dr. Marta Oliveira

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REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
Interests: environmental monitoring; occupational exposure; human biomonitoring; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); monohydroxyl-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs); air pollution; forest fires; firefighters; particulate matter; health risk assessment
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Dear Colleagues,

Every year, forest fires affect millions of people due to the emissions they release, thus becoming an important public health issue. During hot seasons, the number of fire occurrences and burnt areas significantly increases, with smoke from forest fires being scattered over long distances and having a strong negative impact on air quality. The occurrence of structural/industrial fires occurs in urban areas and wildland–urban interfaces. Fires release numerous hazardous pollutants (e.g., particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and sulfur dioxides, metals, and hundreds of volatile organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and may affect the short- and long-term health and quality of life of the general population and of occupationally exposed workers, including firefighters. An increased number of respiratory and cardiovascular emergency admissions have been related to the occurrence of forest fires, thus increasing the healthcare burden of smoked-impacted areas. Firefighting forces also present an increased risk for the development of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as some cancers, in comparison with the general population.

This Special Issue aims to publish original research and state-of-the-art reviews that address environmental/occupational exposure data to health-relevant pollutants released from (forest, structural, and industrial) fires and the associated health risks on exposed local populations and firefighting forces.

Dr. Marta Oliveira
Guest Editor

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Keywords

fire emissions
firefighting activities
human exposure
occupational risks
environmental (bio)monitoring
human biomonitoring surveys
health-relevant pollutants
risk assessment
occupational safety and health
public health

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 762 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Exploratory Analysis of Firefighter Reproduction through Survey Data and Biomonitoring

by Michelle Engelsman, Andrew P. W. Banks, Chang He, Sandra Nilsson, Debbie Blake, Ayomi Jayarthne, Zubaria Ishaq, Leisa-Maree L. Toms and Xianyu Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(8), 5472; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20085472 - 11 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2613

Abstract

Firefighters are occupationally exposed to chemicals that may affect fertility. To investigate this effect, firefighters were recruited to contribute blood, urine, breast milk or semen samples to (1) evaluate chemical concentrations and semen parameters against fertility standards and the general population; (2) assess correlations between chemical concentrations and demographics, fire exposure and reproductive history; and (3) consider how occupational exposures may affect reproduction. A total of 774 firefighters completed the online survey, and 97 firefighters produced 125 urine samples, 113 plasma samples, 46 breast milk samples and 23 semen samples. Blood, urine and breast milk samples were analysed for chemical concentrations (semivolatile organic compounds, volatile organic compounds, metals). Semen samples were analysed for quality (volume, count, motility, morphology). Firefighter semen parameters were below WHO reference values across multiple parameters. Self-reported rates of miscarriage were higher than the general population (22% vs. 12–15%) and in line with prior firefighter studies. Estimated daily intake for infants was above reference values for multiple chemicals in breast milk. More frequent fire incident exposure (more than once per fortnight), longer duration of employment (≥15 years) or not always using a breathing apparatus demonstrated significantly higher concentrations across a range of investigated chemicals. Findings of this study warrant further research surrounding the risk occupational exposure has on reproduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire Emissions: Exposure Data and Potential Health Risks for Firefighting Forces and the General Population)

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12 pages, 1075 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Rural Fires of 2017 and Their Influences on Water Quality: An Assessment of Causes and Effects

by Mário David Sequeira, Ana Castilho, Alexandre Oliveira Tavares and Pedro Dinis

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010032 - 20 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1092

Abstract

As water is facing increasing pressures from population and economic growth and climate change, it becomes imperative to promote the protection, restoration and management of this resource and its watersheds. Since water quality depends on multiple factors both natural and anthropic, it is not easy to establish their influences. After the October 2017 fires that affected almost 30% of the Mondego hydrographic basin in Central Portugal, 10 catchments were selected for periodic physical-chemical monitoring. These monitoring campaigns started one month after the fires and lasted for two hydrological years, measuring the electric conductivity (EC), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity (Turb), alkalinity (Alk), major and minor ions, and trace elements. The obtained data were then statistically analysed alongside the geomorphological characteristics of each catchment coupled with features of land-use and occupation. From the results, it was possible to establish that fire-affected artificial areas, through the atmospheric deposition and surface runoff of combustion products, had the most impact on surface water quality, increasing As, K⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ and Sr, and consequently increasing electrical conductivity. Agricultural land-use seems to play a major influence in raising the water’s EC, Cl, K⁻ and Na²⁺. Regarding natural factors such as catchment geology, it was found that the extent of igneous exposures influences As, and the carbonate sedimentary units are a source of Ca²⁺ and HCO₃²⁻ concentrations and impose an increase in alkalinity. Rainfall seems, in the short term, to increase the water concentration in Al and NO₃⁻, while also raising turbidity due to sediments dragged by surface runoff. While, in the long-term, rainfall reduces the concentrations of elements in surface water and approximates the water’s pH to rainfall features. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire Emissions: Exposure Data and Potential Health Risks for Firefighting Forces and the General Population)

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12 pages, 491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Respiratory Tract and Eye Symptoms in Wildland Firefighters in Two Canadian Provinces: Impact of Discretionary Use of an N95 Mask during Successive Rotations

by Nicola Cherry, Natasha Broznitsky, Mike Fedun and Tanis Zadunayski

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13658; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013658 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1438

Abstract

We examined whether discretionary use of an N95 mask reduced symptom reporting in wildland firefighters. The study collected data from two Canadian provinces during the 2021 fire season, with each firefighter followed for up to 4 rotations. Participants completed questionnaires on symptoms at the start and end of each rotation, when they reported also on mask use (if any) and completed a task checklist. Eighty firefighters contributed data. Nineteen firefighters were successfully fit-tested for N95 masks to wear whenever they felt conditions justified. Start-of-rotation symptoms reflected total hours firefighting in 2021. Symptoms of eye, nose and throat irritation and cough were more bothersome at the end of rotation. Cough, throat and nose (but not eye) symptoms were reported as significantly less bothersome at the end of rotation by those allocated masks, having allowed for crew type and start-of-rotation symptoms. Among those allocated a mask, use was most frequent during initial attack and least during driving and patrol. Reasons for not wearing included high work difficulty and low comfort. It is concluded that symptoms in wildland firefighters increased with hours of exposure. While provision of an N95 mask reduced symptoms, work is needed to overcome barriers to respiratory protection Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire Emissions: Exposure Data and Potential Health Risks for Firefighting Forces and the General Population)

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16 pages, 13647 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations between Awareness of the Risk of Exposure to Pollutants Occurring at Fire Scenes and Health Beliefs among Metropolitan Firefighters in the Republic of Korea

by Hye Eun Oh, Soo Jin Kim, Hyekyung Woo and Seunghon Ham

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148860 - 21 Jul 2022

Viewed by 2068

Abstract

Firefighters are repeatedly exposed to various pollutants that occur at fire scenes. There are three levels of exposure: primary exposure to pollutants, secondary exposure to pollutants on personal protective equipment (PPE), and tertiary exposure to contaminated fire stations and fire engines due to pollutants on PPE. Therefore, it is important for firefighters to be aware of the risk of exposure to pollutants and to practice health behaviors such as appropriate PPE management. No clear association has been established in the existing literature between firefighters’ risk perception level and their health beliefs about the health impact of awareness of exposure to hazardous substances at fire scenes. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between awareness of the exposure risk to primary, secondary, and tertiary pollutants and health beliefs. It was designed as a cross-sectional study, in which a web-based survey was conducted from 13 May to 31 May 2021. The analysis was conducted in 1940 firefighters working in the Seoul metropolis who agreed to participate in the research. Participants who perceived susceptibility were likely to be aware of the primary (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16–3.80), secondary (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI 1.77–4.32), and tertiary (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI 1.85–4.03) exposure risks. Participants who perceived barriers were unlikely to be aware of the risk of exposure to primary (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.49–0.91), secondary (AOR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.61–0.96), and tertiary (AOR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.62–0.91) pollutants. Educational intervention is recommended to improve perceived susceptibility and awareness of the risk of exposure to pollutants and reduce perceived barriers. Consequently, educational intervention is expected to positively impact firefighters’ management of appropriate PPE. We confirmed an association between occupational exposure risk and firefighters’ health beliefs. In the health belief model (HBM), health beliefs that affect health behavior also affect awareness of the exposure risk level. Therefore, an intervention for health beliefs can also be used to raise job-related exposure risk awareness. Regular training on the health impacts of fire scenes is necessary for both newcomers and incumbents to enable firefighters to better recognize the risks of each occupational exposure level. Additionally, laws and regulations are necessary for the removal of harmful substances that contaminate PPE, such as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), during exposure to a fire scene. Our research can be used as a basis for improving fire policies and education programs in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fire Emissions: Exposure Data and Potential Health Risks for Firefighting Forces and the General Population)

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