Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Chieh-Ming Wu, Olorunfemi Adetona, Chi Song
Summary: Wildland firefighters exposed to prescribed burns experience changes in their cardiovascular system, including a decrease in systolic blood pressure and an increase in heart rate, likely due to carbon monoxide exposure and physical exertion during firefighting tasks.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chieh-Ming Wu, Chi (Chuck) Song, Ryan Chartier, Jacob Kremer, Luke Naeher, Olorunfemi Adetona
Summary: Wildland firefighters in the Midwest are exposed to higher levels of wildland fire smoke during prescribed burns compared to those in the western and southeastern United States. Concentrations of carbon monoxide and particulate matter are elevated in the Midwest region. There are differences in exposures among firefighters performing different tasks, and trace metal levels are mostly below safety limits.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Janine A. Baijnath-Rodino, Shu Li, Alexandre Martinez, Mukesh Kumar, Lenya N. Quinn-Davidson, Robert A. York, Tirtha Banerjee
Summary: This passage discusses the constraints and feasibility of conducting Rx burns in California. The study found that spring and winter seasons are suitable for Rx burns similar to fall, and these seasons have more burn window opportunities compared to other seasons. However, burn windows in winter and spring are decreasing each year, primarily due to a decrease in the number of days that the relative humidity thresholds are met.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erin O. Semmens, Cindy S. Leary, Molly R. West, Curtis W. Noonan, Kathleen M. Navarro, Joseph W. Domitrovich
Summary: The study investigated carbon monoxide (CO) exposures in wildland firefighters on the fireline and found that 5% of WFFs exceeded occupational exposure limits. Direct suppression-related job tasks and WFF perceptions of smoke exposure were identified as important predictors of CO exposure.
JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Belen Carballo-Leyenda, Jose G. Villa, Jorge Lopez-Satue, Jose A. Rodriguez-Marroyo
Summary: The study aimed to characterize the thermal environment and risk of heat burns faced by wildland firefighters during suppression tasks in real wildland fires. It was found that the heat exposure varied among different tasks, with overall exposure considered light but with potential for first-degree burns at specific moments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaozhe Yin, Meredith Franklin, Masoud Fallah-Shorshani, Martin Shafer, Rob McConnell, Scott Fruin
Summary: This study presents the largest scale research conducted in a single urban area, using monitoring of different particulate matter concentrations and developing regression and machine learning models to successfully predict 24 elemental components in eight Southern California communities. It was found that incorporating spatiotemporally resolved meteorology into the models improved the accuracy of predictions for particle distribution, especially near roadways for non-tailpipe emissions.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Fabio Garcia-Heras, Jorge Gutierrez-Arroyo, Patxi Leon-Guereno, Belen Carballo-Leyenda, Jose A. Rodriguez-Marroyo
Summary: The study aimed to describe chronic pain (CP) in Spanish helitack crews. Approximately 60% of wildland firefighters reported suffering from CP, with 45.5% experiencing pain in multiple body regions simultaneously. Age, length of service, gender, stature, weight of protective equipment, and job position were found to be associated with the prevalence and location of CP.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Meredith McQuerry, Cassandra Kwon, Madeline Poley-Bogan
Summary: Despite the growing number of female firefighters, their firefighting gear is designed for males, leading to issues of improper fit and higher injury rates. This research aimed to improve the comfort, mobility, and safety of female firefighters by addressing fit and sizing problems in their personal protective clothing (PPC). A mixed methods approach was used, including a nationwide questionnaire, focus groups, and body scanning of 189 female firefighters. Results showed that a significant percentage of female firefighters intentionally do not wear certain parts of their PPC, and interface areas and wildland PPC have the most potential for design and fit improvement. This study established the first and largest anthropometric database for female firefighters in the US, highlighting the safety risks associated with ill-fitting PPC.
FRONTIERS IN MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Md Mahsin, Jason Cabaj, Vineet Saini
Summary: The exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during a remote wildfire event in the Pacific Northwest has led to an increase in outpatient visits related to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Calgary, Canada. This increase was observed during and after the wildfire, particularly among children and individuals with pre-existing diabetes or hypertension.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Anna M. Adetona, Olorunfemi Adetona, Ryan T. Chartier, Michael H. Paulsen, Christopher D. Simpson, Stephen L. Rathbun, Luke P. Naeher
Summary: This study investigated compositional differences in exposure to particulate matter among wildland firefighters and explored the effects of ventilation rate and potential dose on different work tasks. The findings showed higher exposure concentrations of particulate matter on burn days, with variations observed between different tasks. The study highlighted the diversity in particulate matter exposure sources at the fireline and the importance of using dose as a metric for inhalation exposure.
ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Amanda Reiff Metz, Matthew Bauer, Chelsey Epperly, Ginger Stringer, Kristen E. Marshall, Lindsey Martin Webb, Molly Hetherington-Rauth, Shannon R. Matzinger, Sarah Elizabeth Totten, Emily A. Travanty, Kristen M. Good, Alexis Burakoff
Summary: An outbreak of COVID-19 occurred among responders to the Cameron Peak Fire in Colorado, USA, between August 2020 and January 2021. A total of 79 cases were identified, indicating multiple transmissions among the responders. To prevent disease spread, strategies such as symptom screening and testing, as well as improving physical distancing among teams, are recommended.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Stephanie A. Brocke, Grant T. Billings, Sharon Taft-Benz, Neil E. Alexis, Mark T. Heise, Ilona Jaspers
Summary: Inhalational exposure to particulate matter alters gene expression in the airways and increases susceptibility to respiratory viral infection. Exposure to woodsmoke particles prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection dampens immune gene expression and potentially suppresses host defense to the virus, showing a sex-dependent manner in epithelial immune responses.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LUNG CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hong-di He, H. Oliver Gao
Summary: This study investigates pedestrian exposure to PM pollution at an urban traffic intersection through fixed-site and mobile measurements, analyzing variations in particle sizes and exposure during different segments of a pedestrian's journey. The results highlight the importance of reducing PM pollution at intersections and provide valuable information for policymakers to consider measures to decrease pedestrian PM exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Keegan Lopez, Alexandra Camacho, Quiteria Jacquez, Mary Kay Amistadi, Sebastian Medina, Katherine Zychowski
Summary: This study assessed the mechanisms and systemic health impacts of inhaled particulate matter (PM) in a rodent model. The results showed that CCL-2 was upregulated in lung tissue and downregulated in the brain following PM exposure. Additionally, exposure to mine-PM resulted in cerebrovascular barrier integrity deficits and increased GFAP staining, dependent on exosome inhibition. The open-field test revealed a higher stress and anxiety response in the mine-PM exposure group, which was mitigated with GW4869 intervention. Exosome lipidomics revealed substantial alterations in lipid profiles. Overall, this study suggests that lung-derived, circulating exosomes play a role in driving systemic, proinflammatory effects of inhaled PM.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tamar Wainstock, Israel Yoles, Ruslan Sergienko, Itai Kloog, Eyal Sheiner
Summary: This study found an association between PM2.5 exposure and IUFD risk among Jewish women only, suggesting ethnicity as a possible effect modifier. In a multivariable model, for every 10 μg/m3 unit increase in PM2.5, the risk for IUFD increased by 2.98 during the first trimester and by 3.61 during the entire pregnancy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Li-Ming Lo, Candace S. -J. Tsai, Kevin H. Dunn, Duane Hammond, David Marlow, Jennifer Topmiller, Michael Ellenbecker
JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH
(2015)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Li-Ming Lo, Candace S. -J. Tsai, William A. Heitbrink, Kevin H. Dunn, Jennifer Topmiller, Michael Ellenbecker
JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH
(2017)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelsey R. Babik, Matthew M. Dahm, Kevin H. Dunn, Kevin L. Dunn, Mary K. Schubauer-Berigan
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
(2018)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kevin H. Dunn, Adrienne C. Eastlake, Michael Story, Eileen D. Kuempel
ANNALS OF WORK EXPOSURES AND HEALTH
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ronald M. Hall, G. Scott Earnest, Duane R. Hammond, Kevin H. Dunn, Alberto Garcia
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
(2014)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Deborah V. L. Hirst, Kevin H. Dunn, Stanley A. Shulman, Duane R. Hammond, Nicholas Sestito
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
(2014)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kevin H. Dunn, Candace Su-Jung Tsai, Susan R. Woskie, James S. Bennett, Alberto Garcia, Michael J. Ellenbecker
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
(2014)
Article
Environmental Sciences
William A. Heitbrink, Li-Ming Lo, Kevin H. Dunn
JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE
(2015)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kevin L. Dunn, Kevin H. Dunn, Duane Hammond, Samuel Lo
JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eric Glassford, Nicole M. Neu-Baker, Kevin L. Dunn, Kevin H. Dunn
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kevin L. Dunn, Duane Hammond, Kevin Menchaca, Gary Roth, Kevin H. Dunn
JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xing Xin, Mark Barger, Katherine A. Roach, Lauren Bowers, Aleksandr B. Stefaniak, Vamsi Kodali, Eric Glassford, Kevin L. Dunn, Kevin H. Dunn, Michael Wolfarth, Sherri Friend, Stephen S. Leonard, Michael Kashon, Dale W. Porter, Aaron Erdely, Jenny R. Roberts
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Jennie Cox, Brian Christensen, Nancy Burton, Kevin H. Dunn, Mikaela Finnegan, Ana Ruess, Cherie Estill
Summary: This study conducted a literature review on the transmission pathways and sampling methods of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, finding limited effectiveness of air and surface sampling. The development of validated sampling and analysis methods is crucial for assessing worker exposure and the impacts of mitigation efforts.
AEROSOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sophia K. Chiu, Nancy C. Burton, Kevin H. Dunn, Marie A. de Perio
MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT
(2017)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonathon A. Brame, Erik M. Alberts, Mary K. Schubauer-Berigan, Kevin H. Dunn, Kelsey R. Babik, Eftihia Barnes, Robert Moser, Aimee R. Poda, Alan J. Kennedy