{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,28]],"date-time":"2025-05-28T04:49:30Z","timestamp":1748407770350,"version":"3.40.5"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"FEUP","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction:Worldwide, forest fires are among the most common forms of natural disasters. In the closing years of the last century there was an increase of the burned area in some parts of the globe, including in Europe.  Portugal  has  been  particularly  affected  by  large  forest  fires  and  megafires,  which  have  been occurred mainly in the central and northern regions. The proximity of firefighters to fire exposes them to high levels of toxic compounds making this occupation one of the most dangerous and leading International Agency  for  Research  on  Cancer  to  classified  occupational  firefighting  activity  as  possibly  carcinogenic  to humans. Up to date, the existing studies are mainly focused on environmental monitoring, existing limited information regarding biomonitoring assessments during real scenarios of wildland fires combat. This study aims  to  evaluate  the  impact  of  firefighting  occupational  exposure  at  molecular  and  cellular  levels, considering personal  exposure  levels.  Early-effect  biomarkers  (e.g.,  micronucleus,  DNA  strand  breaks  and oxidative DNA damage) will be analyzed in order  to understand the mechanisms of action through which woodsmoke may impact firefighters\u2019 health, including the risk of  cancer. Methodology:This  ongoing prospective longitudinal study will comprise three different stages, specifically pre-exposure, exposure, and post-exposure to fire season. Around 200 wildland northern Portuguese firefighters will be involved in this study. Characterization of the study population will be conducted via questionnaires. Firefighters\u2019 personal exposurelevels  will  be  assessed  by  means  of  metabolites  in  exhaled  breath,  using  an  artificial  olfactory system (e-nose technology). Buccal and urine samples will be used to measure genomic instability through micronucleus test in buccal epithelial cells and urothelial cells. DNA damage and oxidative DNA damage will be evaluated in peripheral blood lymphocytes using the comet assay. Statistical analysis will be performed to determine the relationship between personal exposure  levels to toxic  compounds and the early-effect biomarkers over the three different phases of the study. Expected results: The obtained results will support a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of occupational risks among wildland firefighters, crucial to  prevent\/reduce  the  associated  health  impacts.  This  work  will  contribute tothe  establishment  of recommendations\/good practices to improve firefighters\u2019 working conditions, allowing better definitions of policies and prevention strategies highly needed in this sector.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.24840\/978-972-752-279-8_0031-0036","type":"proceedings-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,31]],"date-time":"2021-08-31T16:31:34Z","timestamp":1630427494000},"page":"31-36","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Assessment of Potential Health Risks of Portuguese Wildland Firefighters\u2019 Occupational Exposure: Biomonitoring Approach"],"prefix":"10.24840","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9187-0279","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Filipa","family":"Esteves","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5279-877X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joana","family":"Madureira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8693-5250","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jo\u00e3o Paulo","family":"Teixeira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4201-1966","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Solange","family":"Costa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"10468","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,28]]},"event":{"name":"4th Symposium on Occupational Safety and Health"},"container-title":["4th Symposium on Occupational Safety and Health Proceedings Book"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,31]],"date-time":"2021-08-31T16:31:40Z","timestamp":1630427500000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/books.fe.up.pt\/index.php\/feup\/catalog\/view\/978-972-752-279-8\/978-972-752-279-8_0031-0036\/265"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,28]]},"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.24840\/978-972-752-279-8_0031-0036","relation":{},"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,28]]}}}