Acute Upper and Lower Respiratory Effects in Wildland Firefighters

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bledsoe TA ; Castellan, Robert M. ; Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Enright, Paul L. ; Gaughan, Denise M. ; Hobbs GR ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Siegel, Paul D. ; Wagner, Gregory R. ; Weissman, David N.
• Description:
  Objectives: To assess acute respiratory effects experienced by wildland firefighters. Methods: We studied two Interagency Hotshot Crews with questionnaires, spirometry, and measurement of albumin, eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) as indicators of inflammation in sputum and nasal lavage fluid. Assessments were made preseason, postfire, and postseason. Results: Fifty-eight members of the two crews had at least two assessments. Mean upper and lower respiratory symptom scores were higher postfire compared to preseason (P - 0.001). The mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second was lower postfire compared to preseason (P - 0.001) and then recovered by postseason. Individual increases in sputum and nasal ECP and MPO from preseason to postfire were all significantly associated with postfire respiratory symptom scores. Conclusions: Wildland firefighting was associated with upper and lower respiratory symptoms and reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Within individuals, symptoms were associated with increased ECP and MPO in sputum and nasal lavage fluid. The long-term respiratory health impact of wildland firefighting, especially over multiple fire seasons, remains an important concern. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Firefighters Fires Irritants Nose Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory Hypersensitivity Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Sense Organs

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• Keywords:
  Breathing-atmospheres Fire-fighters Fire-fighting Fire-fighting-equipment Fire-hazards Fire-safety Nasal-disorders Respiratory-function-tests Respiratory-hypersensitivity Respiratory-irritants Respiratory-rate Respiratory-system-disorders

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• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  50
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20034430
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2008 Sep; 50(9):1019-1028
• Contact Point Address:
  Denise M. Gaughan, MPH, NIOSH MS-H2800, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  dug5@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:667d09fd93614b2fb4f4053e15b4b021533ef4541de84b7b0aa69c6c9fa8fc5918ef9aa8ce7a8ba7d8bf549a8a6810b484fbfda64251b114d96cf3068feb4181
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/189635/cdc_189635_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 151.20 KB ]