Exposure to wildland fire on reproductive health: a focus on male fertility and health impacts on future generations
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Presentation for NACAA meeting
Firefighting is predominately men of reproductive age • 92% of U.S. firefighters are male • 20% of wildland firefighters are female "Fighting wildfires" by The U.S. Army is licensed under CC BY 2.0. D
Occupational hazards and exposures are varied • Smoke emissions: particulate matter, carbon monoxide, VOCs, heavy metals • Other chemical exposures: asbestos, PFAS, radiation, heat • Psychosocial stressors: poor sleep, deployment stress, poor diet.
Health Risks of Firefighting:
Cancer
• Profession is a Group 1 carcinogen
• Sufficient evidence for bladder cancer and mesothelioma
• Limited evidence for colon, prostate, testicular, and skin cancers, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma Heart disease
• Sudden cardiac arrest is the most common cause of death in the occupation Hearing loss Rhabdomyolysis
• Breakdown of muscle tissue that can result in kidney failure and death
• Attributed to strenuous activity and working with heavy equipment in hot environments