Firefighter's Acute Inflammatory Response to Wildfire Suppression

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the inflammatory response to a 12-hour wildfire suppression shift, in firefighters attending the “Black Saturday” natural disaster. Methods: Thirty-eight male volunteer firefighters provided venous blood samples before and after a 12-hour firefighting shift. Pre- to post-shift changes in pro-inflammatory (Interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12P70, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor [GM-CSF], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interferon-gamma [IFNγ]), and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-5, IL-7, IL-10, IL-13) cytokines were measured with paired sample t tests, or Wilcoxon t tests for non-parametric data. Results: Interleukin (IL)-6 (P = 0.003) and IL-8 (P = 0.017) were significantly increased following 12-hours of wildfire suppression. There was also a significant decrease in IL-10 (P = 0.021). Conclusions: The observed acute inflammatory response may have resulted from multiple stressors including physical exertion, thermal strain, or smoke inhalation experienced during the shift, and may be a necessary response for the body to adapt to stressor exposure.

Health risks and mitigation strategies from occupational exposure to wildland fire: a scoping review

“…• Significant increase in IL-6 and IL-8 and significant decrease in IL-10 after 12 h of fire suppression [ 97 ]…”

The Occupational Health Effects of Responding to a Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion Among Emergency First Responders – Lincoln County, Kentucky, 2019

“…Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness smoke, ash, disturbed soil, and other chemical emissions from burning or smoldering structures, vehicles, and brush may also have contributed to respiratory irritation among these first responders. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Given the high proportion of responders reporting acute and ongoing post-response health symptoms and the potential for toxic exposures, responders should be encouraged to seek post-response medical care or evaluation. Barriers to seeking care should be identified and addressed to promote post-response health care.…”

Sustained Effects on Lung Function in Community Members Following Exposure to Hazardous PM2.5 Levels from Wildfire Smoke

“…Therefore, the present study showing an increase in obstructive pathology based on spirometry results suggests a model of increased acute inflammation and activation of the innate immune system from wildfire smoke that results in tissue remodeling and decreased lung function ( Figure 6). firefighters and in vitro studies reported increased IL-6, a contributor to inflammatory lung pathology [33,34], in response to wildfire or wildfire smoke extract, respectively [35,36]. The firefighters were assessed in the acute phase and found increased serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 and decreased IL-10, while the lung epithelial cultures presented with increased IL-6 production in addition to other markers of COPD including dysfunction of tight junctions.…”

“…The ILC2 are important sources of IL-13 [ 32 ] and have been linked to asthma, an obstructive lung pathology. Additionally, studies in both firefighters and in vitro studies reported increased IL-6, a contributor to inflammatory lung pathology [ 33 , 34 ], in response to wildfire or wildfire smoke extract, respectively [ 35 , 36 ]. The firefighters were assessed in the acute phase and found increased serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 and decreased IL-10, while the lung epithelial cultures presented with increased IL-6 production in addition to other markers of COPD including dysfunction of tight junctions.…”