A review of occupational exposures to carcinogens among wildland firefighters.

Wildfires can negatively impact the health and well-being of wildland firefighters through a variety of exposure pathways. Many studies have measured acute health effects from occupational exposure to pollutants in wildfire smoke; however, research specifically examining cancer risks from exposure to carcinogens is limited. This review aimed to better understand cancer risk in this occupation by assessing the existing evidence of exposures and summarizing measured concentrations of carcinogens among wildland firefighters.

Using Focus Groups to Identify Nutrition Education Needs and Implementation Strategies for the Wildland Firefighter.

Objectives: The aims of the study are to describe the current state, identify topics of importance, and suggest implementation strategies for tailored nutrition education for the WLFFs.

Methods: Focus groups were conducted and survey data was collected to gather qualitative and quantitative data from a sample of WLFFs. Constant comparative strategy was used to generate themes from transcripts.

The Wildland Firefighter Exposure and Health Effect (WFFEHE) Study: Rationale, Design, and Methods of a Repeated-Measures Study.

The wildland firefighter exposure and health effect (WFFEHE) study was a 2-year repeated-measures study to investigate occupational exposures and acute and subacute health effects among wildland firefighters. This manuscript describes the study rationale, design, methods, limitations, challenges, and lessons learned. The WFFEHE cohort included fire personnel ages 18-57 from six federal wildland firefighting crews in Colorado and Idaho during the 2018 and 2019 fire seasons.

Nutrient Intake of Wildland Firefighters During Arduous Wildfire Suppression: Macronutrient and Micronutrient Consumption.

Unlabelled: Wildland firefighters (WLFFs) perform in adverse environments making rapid adjustments to dietary needs. The National Mobile Food Services (NMFS) contract details WLFF dietary provisions on wildfire incidents.

Objective: Determine the nutrient content of food and drink provided to and consumed by WLFFs under the NMFS contract.

Exposure to Particulate Matter and Estimation of Volatile Organic Compounds across Wildland Firefighter Job Tasks.

Wildland firefighters are exposed to smoke-containing particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while suppressing wildfires. From 2015 to 2017, the U.S.

Carbon monoxide exposures in wildland firefighters in the United States and targets for exposure reduction.

Background: Every year thousands of wildland firefighters (WFFs) work to suppress wildfires to protect public safety, health, and property. Although much effort has been put toward mitigating air pollutant exposures for the public and WFFs, the current burden in this worker population is unclear as are the most effective exposure reduction strategies.

Objective: Quantify fireline carbon monoxide (CO) exposures in WFFs and identify predictors of exposures.

Workshift Changes in Hydration Status During Wildfire Suppression.

Objective: Document wildland firefighters (WLFFs) hydration status during a singular workshift (13.7 ± 1.4 hours).

Evaluation of Environmental Conditions on Self-Selected Work and Heat Stress in Wildland Firefighting.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate heat stress occurring in wildfire management activities with variable environmental conditions.

Methods: Direct observation and real-time wireless physiological monitoring allowed for weather and physiological metrics, including heart rate, core temperature (T), skin temperature, and physiological strain index (PSI), of male (n=193) and female (n=28) wildland firefighters (WLFFs) to be recorded during wildfire management activities. Accelerometry data were used to categorize intensity level of activity.

Wildland firefighter exposure to smoke and COVID-19: A new risk on the fire line.

Throughout the United States, wildland firefighters respond to wildfires, performing arduous work in remote locations. Wildfire incidents can be an ideal environment for the transmission of infectious diseases, particularly for wildland firefighters who congregate in work and living settings. In this review, we examine how exposure to wildfire smoke can contribute to an increased likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Total Energy Intake and Self-Selected Macronutrient Distribution During Wildland Fire Suppression.

Introduction: Wildland firefighters (WLFF) work long hours in extreme environments, resulting in high daily total energy expenditure. Increasing work-shift eating episodes and/or providing rations that promote convenient eating has shown augmented self-selected work output, as has regular carbohydrate (CHO) consumption. It remains unclear how current WLFF feeding strategies compare to more frequent nutrient delivery.

Risk for heat-related illness among wildland firefighters: job tasks and core body temperature change.

Objectives: In order to make recommendations to protect wildland firefighters (WLFFs) from heat-related illness, the role physical exertion plays on core body temperature (Tc) in the work environment needs to be considered. We aimed to estimate the association of time-varying job tasks with differing exertion levels on change in Tc, among WLFFs engaged in fire management activities, while controlling for ambient conditions and individual characteristics. In addition, we examined whether duration of tasks modified the relationship between task and change in Tc.

Wildland firefighter smoke exposure and risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality.

Wildland firefighters are exposed to wood smoke, which contains hazardous air pollutants, by suppressing thousands of wildfires across the U. S. each year.

Metabolic Demand of Hiking in Wildland Firefighting.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to document characteristics of hiking during wildland firefighter (WLFF) training and wildfire suppression. For the first time, the overall physical demands during wildland firefighting were evaluated in the field using global positioning systems coupled with wireless physiological monitoring and load carriage prediction models.

Methods: Male (n=116) and female (n=15) interagency hotshot crew and type II WLFFs on wildfires volunteered for this direct observation study.

Wildland firefighter deaths in the United States: A comparison of existing surveillance systems.

Wildland fire fighting is a high-risk occupation requiring considerable physical and psychological demands. Multiple agencies publish fatality summaries for wildland firefighters; however, the reported number and types vary. At least five different surveillance systems capture deaths, each with varying case definitions and case inclusion/exclusion criteria.

A cross-sectional survey of occupational history as a wildland firefighter and health.

Background: Little is known regarding the impact of long-term wildland firefighting on health. Our objective was to investigate associations between duration of wildland firefighting experience and the prevalence of self-reported health outcomes.

Methods: We ascertained employment, health, and demographic information on 499 current wildland firefighters (WLFFs) via questionnaire.

Core-temperature sensor ingestion timing and measurement variability.

Context: Telemetric core-temperature monitoring is becoming more widely used as a noninvasive means of monitoring core temperature during athletic events.

Objective: To determine the effects of sensor ingestion timing on serial measures of core temperature during continuous exercise.

Design: Crossover study.