Wood smoke exposure induces a pulmonary and systemic inflammatory response in firefighters

Abstract

Epidemiological studies report an association between exposure to biomass smoke and cardiopulmonary morbidity. The mechanisms for this association are unclear. The aim of the present study was to characterise the acute pulmonary and systemic inflammatory effects of exposure to forest fire smoke.Seasonal forest firefighters (n552) were recruited before and/or after a day of fire-fighting. Exposure was assessed by questionnaires and measurement of carbon monoxide levels (used to estimate respirable particulate matter exposure). The pulmonary response was assessed by questionnaires, spirometry and sputum induction. Peripheral blood cell counts and inflammatory cytokines were measured to define the systemic response.Estimated respirable particulate matter exposure was high (peak levels .2 mg?m ). Serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels significantly increased following fire-fighting. There were no changes in band cells, IL-6, and IL-8 following strenuous physical exertion without fire-fighting. There was a significant association between changes in sputum macrophages containing phagocytosed particles and circulating band cells.In conclusion, acute exposure to air pollution from forest fire smoke elicits inflammation within the lungs, as well as a systemic inflammatory response.

Sintomas respiratórios em trabalhadores de carvoarias nos municípios de Lindolfo Collor, Ivoti e Presidente Lucena, RS

“…The overall prevalence of expectoration in the present study was lower than that found by another group of authors, (3) who reported expectoration in 36% of charcoal production workers, as well as being lower than the 28.9% found in the study involving wildland firefighters and the 27.1% . (7) In another study, (9) chronic expectoration was reported in 27.1% of the individuals exposed to the dust in silos, a prevalence that was also higher than that found in the present study.…”

“…(11) In the present study, charcoal workers who lived within 200 m of the kilns were more likely to present nasal obstruction, which was reported by 22 (32.83%) of the 67 workers interviewed. This prevalence is higher than the 20% found in the study involving wildland firefighters in Canada (7) but lower than the 42.7% found in the study involving pig farmers in the city of Braço do Norte. (6) In the present study, allergic rhinitis was observed in 6 (9%) of the 67 workers investigated, and occupational rhinitis was observed in 14 (20.9%).…”

“…Another study investigating a sample of workers exposed to smoke at work (wildland firefighters in Canada) reported that cough occurred in 24.4% of the sample. (7) In the present study, cough was observed in 22.38% of the charcoal production workers, a prevalence lower than the 30.50% found among fertilizer production workers in the city of Rio Grande, also located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, (8) and far lower than the 73% found among pig farmers in the city of Braço do Norte, which is in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. (6) Chronic cough, defined as cough that persists for three weeks or more, was observed in only 5 (7.46%) of the charcoal production workers evaluated in our study.…”

Canadian Forest Fires and the Effects of Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Hospitalizations among the Elderly

“…The short term effects of exposure to high levels of air pollution are likely to cause inflammatory responses in the lung and release of cytokines with local and systemic consequences [24,77]. Acute effects of PM exposure have also been shown to increase plasma viscosity [25,78].…”

Characterizing residential wood smoke at the neighbourhood scale: An evaluation of five communities in British Columbia.

“…Epidemiological evidence includes work by Swiston et al (2008) who observed lung inflammation and an increased presence of white blood cells and band cells (markers of systemic inflammation) in firefighters that were acutely exposed to wood smoke the previous day. Cook stove interventions that led to ~60% reductions in daily wood smoke exposures for Guatemalan women, have also been associated with reduced blood pressure and cardiac stress (ST-depression) (McCracken et al, 2007;McCracken et al, 2011).…”