International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health最新文献

{"title":"Cytogenetic evaluation of vaginal and buccal epithelium of pregnant women living in conditions of radioactive, chemical and combined environmental contamination.","authors":"Anton V Korsakov, Alexandra S Domakhina, Vladislav P Troshin, Olga Yu Milushkina","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02144-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02144-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Many pollutants constantly worsen the ecological situation, thereby causing irreparable harm to the health of the population. Technogenic impact on the biosphere has become one of the significant factors dictating our conditions of existence on Earth.</p><p><strong>Purpose of the study: </strong>to conduct a comparative analysis of the frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities, indicators of proliferation disorders and nuclear destruction of vaginal and buccal epithelium of pregnant women 26-33 years old living in conditions of radioactive, chemical and combined environmental contamination of the Bryansk region.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>micronucleus test, staining method by Kvik, fluorescence method, immunocytochemistry method, Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann-Whitney U test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities, indicators of proliferation disorders and nuclear destruction in the vaginal epithelium of pregnant women living in areas of radioactive, chemical and combined environmental contamination is 1.3-4.9 times higher, and in the buccal epithelium 1.6-7.8 times higher compared to ecologically safe (control) areas (p < 0.01-0.001). The combined effect of radioactive contamination and chemical pollution resulted in a significantly higher (increase from 12.8% to 81.4% in vaginal epithelium and from 22.6% to 2.3 times in buccal epithelium) frequency of cells with micronuclei, cells with protrusions, binuclear cells, cells with double nuclei, as well as cells with karyopyknosis and karyolysis in pregnant women compared to areas with only one pollution factor.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results demonstrate the synergistic effects of radiation contamination and chemical pollution on the cytogenetic status of pregnant women.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergic effect of arsenic exposure related methylation changes in three cohorts exposed to levels of this toxicant.","authors":"Katarzyna Ewa Sokolowska, Jacek Antoniewski, Marta Sobalska-Kwapis, Dominik Strapagiel, Wojciech Marciniak, Jan Lubiński, Tomasz Kazimierz Wojdacz","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02147-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02147-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The results of studies assessing impact of arsenic exposure on methylome are to large extent inconsistent. To contribute to understanding of effect of arsenic exposure on methylome of the exposed cells, we assess the impact of low-level arsenic exposure on methylome of blood cells in three cohorts of exposed individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Infinium MethylationEPIC array (Illumina Inc.) was used for genome-wide methylation profiling and robust linear regression to identify arsenic-related methylation changes in blood cells from healthy individuals with a 12-year cancer-free follow-up and breast cancer patients, sampled on average 4.29 years before diagnosis, as well as methylomics data from cord blood samples of Biomarkers of Exposure to Arsenic cohort.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our analysis identified a 2,453 arsenic-associated methylation changes in blood from healthy individuals, 9,662 in breast cancer patients and 6,745 in cord blood samples. Similarly to previous studies methylation changes that we identified in each cohort, overlapped only to some extent. However, molecular processes linked to identified methylation changes were very similar in each of the cohorts. And included pathways that could be clearly associated with the adverse effects of arsenic exposure and specifically cancer in the cohort of cancer patients. Moreover, the genomic regions harboring identified in each cohort methylation changes were similar and predominantly included regions participating in regulation of gene transcription.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, our findings show that specificity of arsenic related methylation changes is low but the impact of these changes on cell physiology is very similar across three cohorts we studded.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144142483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Noise-induced hearing injuries among military working dog handlers, 2012-2023.","authors":"Jessica H Murray, Sithembile L Mabila, Edward A Sheriff, Alexis A McQuistan, Shauna L Stahlman","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02146-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02146-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examines noise-induced hearing injuries, among active component service members in Military Working Dog (MWD) handler occupations compared to active component veterinary personnel, military police, and all other active component service members between 2012 and 2023.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 3,373,990 active component service members were included, with 5,112 service members in the MWD handler occupation. 2,726 veterinary personnel, and 157,811 service members working as military police. Crude incidence rates and adjusted incidence rate ratios were calculated for any noise-induced hearing injury, as well as for significant threshold shifts, sensorineural hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, and tinnitus.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During the surveillance period, MWD handlers sustained the highest incidence rate of noise-induced hearing injuries (416.84 cases per 10,000 person-years) compared to veterinary personnel, military police, and other military occupations. Incidence rates of tinnitus were higher than other noise injury types for all occupations and were highest among MWD handlers (262.51 cases per 10,000 person-years). During the surveillance period, incidence rates of tinnitus among MWD handlers steadily increased from 2016 (150.37 cases per 10,000 person-years) until it peaked in 2023 (607.80 cases per 10,000 person-years). Regardless of occupation, the incident rate ratio of any hearing injury increased with increasing age and was highest among MWD handlers who were 45 years and older [IRR = 5.63 (95%CI: 2.89-10.98)].</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study is among the first investigations into MWD handlers' noise-induced hearing injuries.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144142481","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of manual handling weight for lifting and carrying on the severity of acute occupational low back pain.","authors":"Kazuyuki Iwakiri, Keiichi Miki, Takeshi Sasaki","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02148-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02148-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Preventing the progression of occupational low back pain (LBP) is a critical occupational safety and health concern, alongside reducing its incidence. Manual handling of heavy loads may increase LBP severity. This study investigates the impact of lifting and carrying weights on LBP severity in affected workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 2418 cases of acute occupational LBP, each resulting in more than four days of absence from work, were analyzed. These cases, reported as industrial accidents in Japan 2018-2019, were categorized into four weight-handling groups: < 10, 10-20, 20-30, and ≥ 30 kg. LBP severity was defined based on the duration of work absence, as determined by a physician's diagnosis at the onset, and was categorized into four groups: 4-7, 8-14, 15-30, and ≥ 31 days. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between handling weights and absence duration.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The odds ratio (OR) for absence of ≥ 31 days compared with 4-7 days increased with heavier handling weights. Notably, workers handling 30 kg or more weights had a significantly higher OR than those under 10 kg (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.11-2.77). The ORs for absence of 8-14 and 15-30 days compared with 4-7 days showed no significant association with handling weight.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Lifting and carrying heavier loads were associated with increased LBP severity and prolonged work absences. Minimizing manual handling loads may be a practical strategy to reduce the severity of acute occupational LBP and prevent prolonged work absences.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144142479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study: a seven- and twelve-year prospective analysis of occupational exposures and health outcomes among police officers.","authors":"John M Violanti, Desta Fekedulegn, Cecil M Burchfiel, Erin McCanlies, Samantha K Service, Anna Mnatsakanova, Ja K Gu, Penelope Allison, Micheal E Andrew, Luenda E Charles","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02142-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02142-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Overall, police officers have higher rates of several adverse health conditions (e.g., cardiovascular health profiles and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) compared to persons in many other occupations. Our objective was to conduct a comparative study of occupational exposures and health outcomes among police officers across: (a) a 7-year period, from the baseline examination (2004-2009) to the 1st follow-up examination (2011-2015) and (b) a 12-year period, from baseline to the 2nd follow-up examination (2015-2019).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) Study. Variables were assessed through self-report, standardized validated questionnaires, or standardized medical procedures. We computed the 7- and 12-year changes in mean values (for continuous/numeric variables) or prevalence (for categorical variables) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using MIXED and GENMOD procedures in SAS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Occupational stress significantly increased over 12 years [3.4; (95% CI 1.2, 5.6)]. The percentage of officers who reported excellent/very good health significantly decreased across both time periods: [- 11.8%; (- 17.8, - 5.9)] across seven years and [- 17.3%; (- 24.2, - 10.4)] across 12 years. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased over seven years [10.7%; (5.3-16.0)] and over 12 years [7.4%; (0.1-14.0)]. Abdominal obesity and glucose intolerance significantly increased over both time periods while hypertension and elevated triglyceride levels increased slightly but not significantly over both time periods.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Occupational stressors and some health outcomes of officers worsened over time indicating the need for self-health monitoring and wellness programs for police.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cumulative asbestos exposure as a key predictor of long-term pleuropulmonary outcomes: insights from decades of follow-up.","authors":"Ladislav Štěpánek, Marie Nakládalová, Magdaléna Janošíková, Lubomír Štěpánek, Alena Boriková","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02143-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02143-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Occupational asbestos exposure was widespread before regulatory bans, and it remains a risk during renovations or demolitions of older buildings. While asbestos-related diseases are well-documented, less is known about minor radiological changes in exposed individuals. This longitudinal study aimed to identify predictors of pleural and parenchymal lung disorders in individuals with previous occupational asbestos exposure, focusing on both established asbestos-related diseases and minor radiological abnormalities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study tracked 445 former employees (334 men, 111 women) of two Czech asbestos-processing plants, who underwent regular examinations from the 1980s to December 2022. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to analyse predictors of asbestos-related diseases, as well as minor radiological findings alone.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over a median latency of 37 years, 127 participants (28.5%) developed asbestos-related diseases, mainly pleural mesothelioma (59 cases). An additional 168 participants (37.8%) exhibited minor radiological findings, predominantly pleural plaques (129 cases), while 150 (33.7%) had no abnormalities. Substantial cumulative exposure was a strong predictor for minor radiological findings (odds ratio [OR] 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-3.35, p = 0.010) and any endpoint, including diseases (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.18-3.02, p = 0.008). Respiratory symptoms and impaired spirometry results significantly increased the likelihood of endpoint occurrence. No significant differences emerged between settings with predominantly chrysotile exposure and those with a chrysotile-crocidolite mixture.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the predictive value of cumulative exposure and the need for ongoing surveillance of occupationally exposed individuals to better understand radiological changes, their significance, and to refine risk assessment models.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144126280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations of ambient air pollution exposure to fine particulate matter and its chemical constituents before and during pregnancy with the risk of full-term small for gestational age: a retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Tingrong Wang, Hanping Ma, Rui Li, Donghua Li, Tianshan Shi, Zhenjuan Li, Zixuan Zou, Xiaowei Ren","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02141-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02141-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>In the current study, we explored the associations between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) constituents and full-term small for gestational age (SGA) in different periods.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We included 155,897 participants, and matched the exposure concentrations of PM_2.5 and its constituents [sulfate (SO₄^2-), nitrate (NO₃^-), ammonium (NH₄⁺), organic matter (OM), and black carbon (BC)] according to participants' geographical location. To explore the associations of prenatal exposure to PM_2.5 and its constituents with the risk of full-term SGA, we used logistic regression, restricted cubic spline regression (RCS) and quartile g-computation (QGCOMP).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that individual exposure to PM_2.5 and its constituents was positively associated with the risk of full-term SGA (P < 0.05), whether in the year before pregnancy or the entire pregnancy. These associations were more pronounced in the second trimester. We found that the risk of full-term SGA was positively and linearly related to the concentrations of PM_2.5 and its constituents (P_overall < 0.05, P_nonlinear > 0.05). The associations of PM_2.5 and its constituents with full-term SGA were stronger in multiparous mothers. Moreover, full-term SGA was associated with exposure to mixtures of SO₄^2-, NO₃^-, NH₄⁺, OM, and BC before pregnancy and in the second and third trimester. Among these, BC was positively associated with full-term SGA at each of the aforementioned stages.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The risk of full-term SGA was positively and linearly related to concentrations of PM_2.5 and its constituents, and these associations were more pronounced in the second trimester. BC was the most hazardous constituent of PM_2.5 that was associated with full-term SGA.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144110376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exposure to seasonal PM_2.5 derived from biomass burning increased the risk of vitamin D deficiency in healthy perimenopausal women.","authors":"Mattabhorn Phimphilai, Sridanai Watthanawongkeeree, Worapaka Manosroi","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02149-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02149-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Southeast Asia faces problems with seasonal air pollution from biomass burning. Data regarding vitamin D deficiency and seasonal air pollution is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of seasonal air pollutants on vitamin D deficiency and the predictors of vitamin D deficiency during haze periods.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective cohort study included 77 peri-menopausal women. All participants were enrolled and followed at the peak and low pollutant periods, respectively. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured at both points. Data regarding 24 h particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM_2.5) was obtained from the database of the Pollution Control Department of Thailand.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The ambient 24 h PM_2.5 was higher (46.9 ± 4.7 µg/m³ vs. 11.2 ± 5.1 µg/m³, P < 0.001) at the peak pollutant period. In contrast, serum 25(OH)D level was 18.8% lower, and the incidence of vitamin D deficiency was 45.4% higher at the peak pollutant period compared to those at the low pollutant period. Seasonal air pollutants were associated with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency by 3.5 folds [OR 3.5 (95% CI 1.1-14.6)]. The ambient 24 h PM_2.5 during the peak pollutant periods was an independent predictor of vitamin D deficiency. Its threshold of 20 µg/m³ demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 75.0%, 85.7%, and 78.0%, respectively, to predict the occurrence of vitamin D deficiency.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Seasonal air pollutants increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency. The ambient 24 h PM_2.5 at 20 µg/m³ demonstrated high diagnostic performance for vitamin D deficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144110390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Work and work exposures in sugarcane farming in Eswatini, Southern Africa.","authors":"S C Msibi, S Naidoo, K Jakobsson, J Glaser, B Skinner, R N Naidoo","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02140-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02140-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe work practices and exposures among sugarcane farm workers on smallholder cooperatives in eSwatini, being subcontracted (cane cutters) or directly employed (pesticide applicators).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were collected at mid-harvest using repeated field observations and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) measurements. Questionnaires were administered to 267 sugarcane cutters and 125 pesticide applicators. Individual work output was defined as the length of the row of sugarcane cut over the workday, which also determined the monthly remuneration. The Quick Exposure Check was used to assess exposure to musculoskeletal risks. Pesticide handling practices were described with a focus on personal protection safety practices. Additionally, heart rate was measured in 20 pesticide workers for estimation of workload and core temperature.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sugarcane sites generally had no provision for rest in shade. Few workers were provided with drinking water and thus used personal containers or took water from the irrigation system. The mean water intake over the workday was as low as 1.4 L. Most workers (87%) described their work as physically demanding. For workers with a high workload (cane cutters), the observed daily average maximum WBGT of 28.6 °C was above the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) of 26 °C. Pesticide applicators had a moderate workload. A minority of the applicators had access to proper personal protective equipment such as air respirators (4%), chemical gloves (17%), and chemical overalls (21%); still, their protective clothing hindered heat dissipation and thus increased heat stress.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Workplace interventions are needed to protect workers' health and safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144078078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-respiratory health risks and mortality associated with fighting bushfires (wildfires): a systematic review.","authors":"Asmare Gelaw, Win Wah, Deborah C Glass, Malcolm R Sim, Ryan Hoy, Janneke Berecki-Gisolf, Karen Walker-Bone","doi":"10.1007/s00420-025-02138-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02138-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bushfires (also known as wildland or forest fires) expose emergency responders to occupational hazards under exceptional circumstances. Whilst the health impacts of structural firefighting have been studied, less is known about the non-respiratory health impacts or risk of mortality amongst bush firefighters, who can be volunteers. More information about health risks is needed to generate effective prevention strategies.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To critically evaluate and synthesise the published evidence about the non-respiratory health risks and risk of mortality associated with bushfire fighting.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, Scopus, and Embase to identify studies evaluating morbidity or mortality or associated risk factors among bushfire fighters. The quality of included studies was evaluated twice independently using a specific quality assessment tool.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-seven studies were included. 11(41%) were assessed as moderate quality and 16(59%) as low quality. There is a growing body of evidence for adverse short-term impacts of bushfire fighting on mental health and injuries. Linkage studies showed that volunteer firefighters had lower mortality and cancer risk in their late forties compared to the general population.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Most studies relied on cross-sectional and retrospective designs without comparison groups, limiting the ability to draw robust conclusions. It is essential to conduct higher-quality research using prospective designs and longer-term follow-up to better understand the health outcomes of bushfire fighting, particularly given the anticipated increase in the frequency and severity of bushfires.</p>","PeriodicalId":13761,"journal":{"name":"International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143986350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}