Short-term spirometric changes in wildland firefighters

Abstract

Background: The short-term effects of smoke inhalation have been little studied in European wildland firefighters, especially in an intra-individual design. Our purpose is to study the spirometric changes from the early stage during a wildland fire season and to compare smokers and non-smokers.

Methods: A population of 108 firefighters from a Civil Security Unit, based in Corsica, was tested immediately after having been exposed to the smoke of coniferous trees.

Results: Out of 108 people, 59 were smokers and 49 were non-smokers without any acute or chronic pulmonary disease. Compared to baseline values, a decrease of spirometric parameters was observed immediately after the end of exposure and an even greater decrease was seen after 24 hr (FEV1 -0.53 L; FVC -0.59 L; PEF -53 L min(-1), P < 0.05 for each). None of the participants complained of respiratory symptoms. Three months after the end of the season, a final test was given which revealed a persistent decrease in spirometric parameters in comparison with baseline values (FEV1 -0.28 L; FVC -0.34 L; PEF -45 L min(-1), P < 0.05 for each). Comparison of smoking and non-smoking groups did not show any noteworthy difference for each parameter or the importance of their decline.

Conclusions: The findings show that firefighters are likely to develop respiratory impairments after wood smoke exposure. We did not observe any statistical differences between smokers and non-smokers.