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. 2018 Apr 23:11:81-88.
doi: 10.2147/JAA.S136417. eCollection 2018.

Acute effects of smoke exposure on airway and systemic inflammation in forest firefighters

Niki Gianniou  1 , Charilena Giannakopoulou  2 , Efrossini Dima  2 , Matina Kardara  3 , Paraskevi Katsaounou  1 , Alexandros Tsakatikas  4 , Charis Roussos  1   2   3 , Nikolaos Koulouris  2 , Nikoletta Rovina  2
Affiliations

Acute effects of smoke exposure on airway and systemic inflammation in forest firefighters

Niki Gianniou et al. J Asthma Allergy. .

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess respiratory health and airway and systemic inflammation in professional forest firefighters post firefighting.

Methods: A total of 60 firefighters who participated in forest firefighting operations in Greece during 2008 were included in the study. A questionnaire consisting of symptoms and exposure, pulmonary function, atopy, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and markers of inflammation in induced sputum, serum, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was assessed.

Results: A measurable eosinophilic and neutrophilic inflammation was shown to be induced in the bronchial airways after acute exposure during forest firefighting. This was associated with increased respiratory symptoms from the upper and lower respiratory tract and pulmonary function impairment. Additionally, a measurable systemic inflammatory response was demonstrated. This study showed that acute exposure during forest firefighting significantly augments the intensity of airway and systemic inflammation in relation to the baseline inflammatory background due to chronic exposure.

Conclusion: The repeated acute exposures during firefighting augment the burden of chronic airway and systemic inflammation and may eventually lead to allergic sensitization of the airways and increased incidence of rhinitis and asthma after prolonged exposure.

Keywords: acute exposure; airway inflammation; allergic sensitization; firefighters; systemic inflammation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sputum levels of TNF-α and IL-8 off-season and post exposure.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Serum levels of TNF-α, VEGF, and IL-8 off-season and post exposure.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Time-dependent induction of systemic inflammation in forest firefighters with continuous exposure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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