Evaluation of occupational exposure and potential health impacts of forest firefighters in the State of Pará

• Grant number: 23/04212-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health
• Principal Investigator: Kelly Polido Kaneshiro Olympio
• Grantee: Kelly Polido Kaneshiro Olympio
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Bruno Santana Carneiro ; Edivaldo Herculano Correa de Oliveira ; João Paulo Fernandes Teixeira ; KLEBER RAIMUNDO FREITAS FAIAL ; Rafael Junqueira Buralli ; Rosivaldo de Alcântara Mendes ; Solange Cristina Bastos da Costa ; Thiago Nogueira
• Associated research grant(s): 24/01326-1 - Metabolic effects of chemical exposure in forest firefighters from the Pará State: a metabolomic approach applied to health technology, AP.R

Abstract

Introduction. Air pollution is a public health problem. Forest fires emit pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and others. Exposure to these pollutants can cause adverse health effects, in addition to environmental and socioeconomic damage. The fire brigades are composed of forest firefighters, who can be formal, informal and voluntary workers exposed to chemical, physical, biological, ergonomic and accident risks. Aims. To assess the occupational exposure and potential health impacts of forest firefighters who work in the fight against forest fires in the state of Pará, in addition to consolidate inter-institutional, interstate and international partnerships. Methodology. This study will be composed by 3 thematic axes: 1) investigation of the profile of forest firefighters through a survey (demographic and health profile, past history, and behaviors related to health and work relationships); 2) ergonomic analysis of work (real and prescribed work) and 3) air sampling in the breathing area of firefighters for chemical analysis of pollutants and analysis of exposure and effect biomarkers through blood and urine. For the recruitment of participants, we will start with the formal brigade workers hired by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources - IBAMA (n=150) and, from there, we will locate the voluntary and informal brigades of the state of Pará using the snowball technique, until the saturation of professionals in the state, aiming at a sample of 500 workers (250 firefighters who work directly in firefighting and 250 administrative workers). A further result of this study will be to consolidate the partnership with the Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC), in Pará, and the University of Porto, in Portugal, working with the firefighters in the state of Pará and, through future funding, reaching other states belonging to the Arc of Fire. All chemical and biochemical analyzes will be carried out at the IEC. (AU)