Publications by authors named "K Slezakova"
Article Synopsis
- Wildland firefighters face exposure to toxic metal(loid)s released during wildfires, with this study being the first to focus on how firefighting activities affect urinary metal(loid) levels in these workers.
- The research found that smokers generally had higher baseline levels of certain metals like zinc and cadmium compared to non-smokers.
- After firefighting efforts, significant increases in toxic metals were observed, especially for non-smokers, with many firefighters exceeding recommended safety levels for multiple metal(loid)s, highlighting potential health risks.
Sleep is a vital process that impacts biological functions such as cell renewal, bone regeneration, and immune system support. Disrupted sleep can interrupt erythropoiesis, leading to fewer red blood cells, reduced haemoglobin concentration, and decreased haematocrit levels, potentially contributing to haematological disorders. This is particularly concerning for shift workers for example firefighters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe lack of knowledge regarding the extent of microbial contamination in Portuguese fitness centers (FC) puts attendees and athletes at risk for bioaerosol exposure. This study intends to characterize microbial contamination in Portuguese FC by passive sampling methods: electrostatic dust collectors (EDC) (N = 39), settled dust (N = 8), vacuum filters (N = 8), and used cleaning mops (N = 12). The obtained extracts were plated in selective culture media for fungi and bacteria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe characterization of wildland firefighters' occupational exposure must consider different exposures, including those at the fire station. The present study aimed to characterize the occupational exposure of 172 Northern Portuguese wildland firefighters in fire stations during the pre-wildfire season of 2021. The biological impact of estimated inhaled doses of PM and PM (indoor/outdoor) was accessed through a buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay in exfoliated buccal cells of a subgroup of 80 firefighters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Available literature has found an association between firefighting and pathologic pathways leading to cardiorespiratory diseases, which have been linked with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are highlighted as priority pollutants by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative in occupational and non-occupational contexts.
Methods: This cross-sectional study is the first to simultaneously characterize six creatinine-adjusted PAHs metabolites (OHPAHs) in urine, blood pressure, cardiac frequency, and hemogram parameters among wildland firefighters without occupational exposure to fire emissions (> 7 days), while exploring several variables retrieved via questionnaires.