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Esteves F, Madureira J, Barros B, Alves S, Pires J, Martins S, Oliveira M, Vaz J, Slezakova K, Pereira MDC, Fernandes A, Morais S, Guimarães JT, Bonassi S, Teixeira JP, Costa S. Impact of occupational exposure to wildfire events on systemic inflammatory biomarkers in Portuguese wildland firefighters. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2025; 277:121608. [PMID: 40233845 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2025] [Accepted: 04/12/2025] [Indexed: 04/17/2025]
Abstract
While occupational exposure as a firefighter is considered a dangerous occupation, research on the underlying mechanisms remains limited, particularly in wildland firefighters. Inflammation, a key effect of wildfire exposure, plays a significant role in the development of various diseases. The current study aims to investigate the impact of wildland firefighting exposure on the levels of pro-inflammatory systemic biomarkers. A pre-post study design investigated 59 wildland firefighters comparing data collected after participation in a wildfire event (Phase II) with data obtained before wildfire season (Phase I). Data on demographics, lifestyle, health and occupational-related factors were assessed. Exposure factors, such as fire combat (e.g., exposure duration), were also registered. Inflammatory biomarkers (i.e. interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-8 [IL-8], tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]) and hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons metabolites (1-OHNaph+1-OHAce, 2-OHFlu, 1-OHPhen, 1-OHPyr) were analysed in blood and urine samples, respectively. Serum IL-8 and IL-6 levels were significantly increased after wildland fire combat. IL-8 levels were 2.62 times higher (95 % CI: 1.96-3.50; p < 0.01), whereas IL-6 levels were 1.25 times higher (95 % CI: 1.00-1.57; p = 0.04). Furthermore, IL-8 levels were significantly correlated with urinary 2-hydroxyfluorene levels and fire combat duration (>12 h). In addition, the mean hs-CRP level, in both phases, was above 3.0 mg/L, indicating a potential risk for cardiovascular events. Given the long-term health implications of firefighting occupational exposure, biomonitoring and early detection of occupational risks are essential for protecting firefighters' health. Protective measures must be urgently implemented to enhance occupational health and strengthen preventive strategies in this sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa 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; Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana 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
| | - Bela Barros
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Alves
- Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Joana Pires
- 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
| | - Sandra Martins
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600, Porto, Portugal; Department of Clinical Pathology, São João University Hospital Centre, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Oliveira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal
| | - Josiana Vaz
- Research Centre for Active Living and Wellbeing (LiveWell), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal; CIMO, LA SusTEC, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Klara Slezakova
- LEPABE-ALiCE, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria do Carmo Pereira
- LEPABE-ALiCE, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - Adília Fernandes
- Research Centre for Active Living and Wellbeing (LiveWell), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Simone Morais
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Tiago Guimarães
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, n° 135, 4050-600, Porto, Portugal; Department of Clinical Pathology, São João University Hospital Centre, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal; Unit of Biochemistry, Department Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal
| | - Stefano Bonassi
- Unit of Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, 00163, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Raffaele University, 00166, Rome, Italy
| | - João Paulo 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.
| | - Solange 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
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Esteves F, Madureira J, Costa C, Pires J, Barros B, Alves S, Vaz J, Oliveira M, Slezakova K, Fernandes A, Pereira MDC, Morais S, Valdiglesias V, Bonassi S, Teixeira JP, Costa S. Occupational exposure to wildland firefighting and its effects on systemic DNA damage. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2025; 266:114576. [PMID: 40203508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2025] [Accepted: 04/03/2025] [Indexed: 04/11/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Portugal is among the European Union countries more devastated by forest fires. Wildland firefighters are at the forefront of this battle, facing exposure to a wide range of harmful pollutants. Epidemiological studies have highlighted a potential link between occupational firefighting exposure and several diseases, including cancer. To date, very few studies have explored the biological mechanisms associated with such exposure. The present longitudinal study aims to assess changes in early effect biomarkers following wildland firefighters' occupational exposure to a real wildfire event. METHODS Paired blood samples from 59 healthy Portuguese wildland firefighters were collected at two different time points: before wildfire season and after a fire event during wildfire season. Sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, sex) and work-related factors (e.g., years of service) were assessed via a self-reported questionnaire. Levels of early effect biomarkers, such as primary DNA damage and oxidative DNA damage (oxidised purines) were assessed via comet assay. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were evaluated by phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX). Moreover, hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (OHPAHs) and metal(loid)s were quantified in urine samples. The influence of urinary OHPAHs, urinary metal(loid)s, and other exposure-related factors (e.g., firefighting duration) on changes (Δ) in early effect biomarkers (post-vs. baseline levels) was investigated. RESULTS Firefighting activities led to a significant increase in both primary DNA damage and oxidative DNA damage by 22 % (95 % CI: 1.11-1.35; p < 0.05) and 23 % (95 % CI: 1.04-1.45; p < 0.05), respectively. Results from linear regression revealed that per each unit increase of urinary 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-OHFlu) (μmol/mol creatinine), the risk of ⧍ oxidative DNA damage increased by 20 % [FR: 1.20 (1.09-1.32); p < 0.01]. Additionally, each unit increase in urinary cesium (Cs) (μg/L) resulted in a significant 4 % increase in Δ primary DNA damage [FR: 1.04 (1.01-1.06); p < 0.05] and a 3 % increase in Δ oxidative DNA damage [FR: 1.03 (1.01-1.05); p < 0.05]. Post-exposure levels of γH2AX were significantly correlated with urinary 2-OHFlu levels assessed after firefighting (r = 0.30; p < 0.05). Furthermore, exposure duration and reported breathing difficulties during firefighting were significantly associated with increased levels of primary DNA damage. CONCLUSION Results obtained provide insights into the potential human health effects of wildland firefighting occupational exposure at the genetic and molecular levels, offering new and important mechanistic data. These findings are crucial for implementing health and safety measures, recommendations, and best practices to mitigate occupational risks and protect the health of wildland firefighters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa 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; Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana 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
| | - Carla 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
| | - Joana Pires
- 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
| | - Bela Barros
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Alves
- Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Josiana Vaz
- Research Centre for Active Living and Wellbeing (LiveWell), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal; CIMO, LA SusTEC, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Marta Oliveira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal
| | - Klara Slezakova
- LEPABE-ALiCE, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - Adília Fernandes
- Research Centre for Active Living and Wellbeing (LiveWell), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal; CIMO, LA SusTEC, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Maria do Carmo Pereira
- LEPABE-ALiCE, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - Simone Morais
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Valdiglesias
- Universidade da Coruña, Grupo NanoToxGen, Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía - CICA, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Campus A Zapateira s/n, A Coruña, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas, As Xubias, A Coruña, 15006, Spain
| | - Stefano Bonassi
- Unit of Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, 00163, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Raffaele University, 00166, Rome, Italy
| | - João Paulo 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.
| | - Solange 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
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Zhang YJ, Wang XX, Zeng LJ, Ka-Yam LAM, Dai QY, Chen Y, Chen J, Guo Y, Cai Z. Rewiring the nexus between urban traffic pollution-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and DNA injury via urinary metabolomics. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 363:125188. [PMID: 39486674 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 09/23/2024] [Accepted: 10/22/2024] [Indexed: 11/04/2024]
Abstract
Urban road traffic environmental stress impacts outdoor population health, with oxidative damage serving as an early indicator of xenobiotic exposure. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as priority carcinogens pose significant public health burden, yet knowledge remains limited regarding the endogenous metabolic alternations associated with oxidative DNA injury. This cross-sectional study focused on the cohort consisting of 109 sanitation workers ("traffic exposure group") and 112 demographics-matched common residents ("controls") in South China. The goal was to elucidate the occurrence of internal exposure to nine hydroxyl PAHs, and the interrelations with oxidative DNA damage (indicated by 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG) by linear mixed-effect regression model. T-test and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were used to determine differential metabolites in non-targeted metabolomics. Results revealed outdoor workers suffered from the heavier PAH exposure burden and exhibited a stronger dose-dependent correlation with 8-OHdG, evidenced by the higher regression coefficient (0.244, 95% CI: 0.154-0.334) than controls (0.203, 95% CI: 0.079-0.328). In total 42 differential endogenous metabolites witnessed significant expression under traffic emission scenario, mainly implicated in phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis. The down-expressed uric acid was the unique metabolite that inversely correlated with the increased intake of ∑8PAH especially in cases. Partially attributed to the traffic-derived PAHs, the dysregulated amino acid, nicotinamide, purine, and steroid hormones metabolic pathways encompassing 11 metabolites were determined as underlying biomarkers in mediating DNA damage. Notably, our findings proposed uric acid may act as a potential antioxidant, as evidenced by the negative correlation with 8-OHdG. The study illustrates outcomes of metabolomics can collaboratively indicate DNA oxidative damage caused by PAHs linked to urban traffic exposure, which holds significant implications for future toxicological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Xiao-Xiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Li-Juan Zeng
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - L A M Ka-Yam
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Qing-Yuan Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Yi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Jian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Ying Guo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Zongwei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China.
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