Prolonged occupational exposure leads to allergic airway sensitization and chronic airway and systemic inflammation in professional firefighters - 29/08/16
Abstract |
Background and objectives |
Little data exist on short- and long-term effects of occupational exposure on airway and systemic inflammation in professional firefighters. We aimed to characterize airway and systemic inflammation in training firefighters with a maximum occupational exposure of 1 year compared to the long-term exposure of professional firefighters.
Methods |
A questionnaire for symptoms and exposure, pulmonary function, atopy, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and markers of inflammation in induced sputum, serum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and bronchial biopsies were assessed in a total of 92 firefighters (63 full-time professionals and 29 trainees).
Results |
Professional firefighters showed allergic bronchial sensitization documented by the presence of atopy, and eosinophilia in induced sputum, BAL and bronchial biopsies. IL-8, ECP, VEGF, and TNF-α levels were statistically significantly higher in the sputum supernatants of professional firefighters compared to the trainees (p = 0.04, p = 0.02, p = 0.04, and p = 0.02, respectively). Serum IL-8 and TNF-α levels were also statistically significantly higher in the group of professional firefighters (p = 0.04, p = 0.03, respectively). Finally, there was a linear correlation between the duration of the occupation in Service and the degree of airway and systemic inflammation.
Conclusions |
These results indicate a “dose-response” effect of chronic exposure to a polluted environment on bronchial and systemic inflammation in professional firefighters.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Highlights |
• | Prolonged exposure to smoke induces a local inflammatory response within the lungs, which initiates a systemic response. |
• | Chronic exposure to air pollutants and combustion products may lead to increased sensitization to airway allergens. |
• | Awareness should be heightened among firefighters to adequately use the self-contained breathing apparatuses during operations. |
Keywords : Firefighters, Airway inflammation, Systemic inflammation, Allergic sensitization
Abbreviations : FEV1, FVC, TLC, RV, KCO, PD20meth, ECP, IL-8, IL-4, IL-13, TNF-α, VEGF, BALF
Plan
Vol 118
P. 7-14 - septembre 2016 Retour au numéro
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