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9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2025

Glioma mutational signatures associated with haloalkane exposure are enriched in firefighters.

BACKGROUND: Glioma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Modifiable risk factors remain unidentified. New advances in exposure assessment, genomic analyses, and statistical techniques permit more accurate evaluation of glioma risk associated with exogenous occupational or environmental exposures. METHODS: By using whole-exome sequencing data from matched germline and glioma tumor samples, the authors compared tumor mutational signatures for 17 persons with glioma and a documented occupational history of firefighting with those of 18 persons with glioma without an occupational history of firefighting. All 35 individuals were participants in the University of California, San Francisco Adult Glioma Study. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation among firefighters between the median number of sample variants attributable to single-base substitution signature 42, a single-base substitution mutational signature associated with haloalkane exposure (from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutational Signatures in Cancer) and firefighting years (p = .04; R2 = 0.29). Among nonfirefighters, the individuals with the highest number of median variants attributable to single-base substitution signature 42 also had occupations that possibly exposed them to haloalkanes, such as painting and being a mechanic. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the authors identified gliomas that had mutational signatures associated with haloalkane exposure that were enriched in firefighters and other occupations.

Humans↗
PubMed1979

Pulmonary function in firefighters: acute changes in ventilatory capacity and their correlates.

A group of 39 firefighters was examined during routine firefighing duty. Following smoke exposure the average decrease in one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0) was 0.05 litre (137 observations). This decline in FEV1.0 was related to the severity of smoke exposure as estimated by the firefighter and to the measured particulate concentration of the smoke to which he was exposed. Decreases in FEV1.0 in excess of 0.10 litre were recorded in 30% of observations. Changes in FEV1.0 resulting from a second exposure to smoke on the same tour of duty were greater when smoke exposure at the previous fire was heavy. The repeated episodes of irritation of the bronchial tree that have been documented in this investigation may explain the origin of the previously observed chronic effect of firefighting on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Strength and fitness and subsequent back injuries in firefighters.

This prospective investigation was done to evaluate five strength and fitness measurements and the subsequent occurrence of back injuries in 1652 firefighters for the years 1971 to 1974. The prospective measurements included flexibility, isometric lifting strength, bicycle ergometer exercise measurements of two-minute recovery heart rate, diastolic blood pressure at a heart rate of 160 beats per minute and watts of effort required to sustain heart rate at 160. Three fitness and conditioning groups were established by multivariate ranking and regression techniques (259 high, 266 low, and 1127 middle) and the subsequent back injuries were tabulated for the three groups. The results showed a graded and statistically significant protective effect for added levels of fitness and conditioning (least fit, 7.1% injured; middle fit, 3.2% jured; and most fit, 0.8% injured). It was concluded that physical fitness and conditioning of firefighters are preventive of back injuries and that further investigations are warranted to study other injuries and physical fitness in this physically active occupational group.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Exposure of firefighters to toxic air contaminants.

A personal sampling apparatus for firefighters was developed to sample the fire atmosphere for CO, CO2, O2, NO2, HCI, HCN and pariculate content. Two fire companies made ninety successful sample runs during structural fires. CO presented a potential acute hazard and particulate concentrations were high. HCN was detected at low levels in half the samples. HCI was detected in only eight samples but on two occasions exceeded 100 ppm. CO2 and NO2 levels and O2 depression do not appear to represent significant hazards.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2026

Exploring the experiences, views, and needs of family members of emergency response workers: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.

Background: Emergency responders, including firefighters, police officers, and paramedics, face workplace challenges that may harm their well-being. They typically rely on family members for support, which may have damaging effects on the family system. While the experiences of emergency responders are well established, their families' subsequent struggles are less well explored.Objective: This review explores the experiences, views, and needs of family members, through determining the mental health and well-being issues that they face, and establishing ways in which family members could be supported.Method: We searched five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus, and ProQuest) for qualitative papers exploring experiences of family members of emergency responders. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, and data were meta-synthesized using thematic analysis.Results: Six themes and two subthemes were identified from the meta-synthesis. 'Experiences of emotional strain' reflected worry over safety and coping with volatile moods. 'Increased responsibilities' involved safeguarding emergency responders' well-being and managing household duties, at the expense of family members' own needs. Families felt 'devoted yet invisible', with sacrifices overlooked by both emergency responders and society. 'Impacts on the family dynamic' included relational detachment and frustration. 'Support for emergency responder families' from fellow emergency responder families was valued, but organizational support was limited. 'Media portrayal and societal perceptions' varied, as police families faced hostility, while firefighter and paramedic families garnered respect, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusions: This review highlights that family members play a central role in maintaining the well-being of emergency responders, yet simultaneously face hardships associated with their family member's work and feel undervalued despite their support. This lack of recognition extends to limited professional support. There is a critical need for targeted mental health interventions to support family members, alongside family support measures from emergency responder organizations to assist with the practical difficulties faced by families.

Humans↗
PubMed1979

Respirator use and protection from exposure to carbon monoxide.

Investigations of the protective effect afforded by respirators in Baltimore firefighters are presented. The data indicates that the continuous use of respirators offers significant protection from exposure to carbon monoxide but that this protection is not absolute. A surprising finding is that the intermittent use of the face mask offers as little protection to the men as does non-use. These findings emphasize the difficulties in relying upon respiratory personal protective equipment for protection from exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Exercise prescription: a clinical trial.

To assess the effectiveness of physician prescribed exercise, health education, and patient self-monitoring, 124 firefighters were medically screened and randomly allocated to a control and two treatment groups. Physiologic and reporting methods were employed to assess adherence to regular exercise at three months and six months after the initial exercise prescription. Addition of a health education program significantly improved compliance over that achieved by a physician consultation. Self-monitoring did not produce a further increase in compliance. Improvement in the treatment groups was limited to three months after prescription; at six months, the treatment and control populations had similar exercise patterns.

Adult↗