Occupational activity and health impacts of the forest firefighter

• Grant number: 23/04877-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health
• Principal Investigator: Kelly Polido Kaneshiro Olympio
• Grantee: Kamila de Almeida Piai
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

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) analysis of effect biomarkers through blood and oral suab. All chemical and biochemical analyzes will be carried out at the IEC. 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. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PEREIRA, ELIZEU CHIODI; PIAI, KAMILA DE ALMEIDA; SALLES, FERNANDA JUNQUEIRA; SILVA, AGNES SOARES DA; OLYMPIO, KELLY POLIDO KANESHIRO. A comprehensive analysis of children's blood lead levels in Latin America and the Caribbean over the last eight years: Progress and recommendations. Science of The Total Environment, v. 928, p. 15-pg., 2024-04-16. (17/25424-9, 18/18391-0, 23/04877-6, 23/04803-2)