Firefighters operating in wildland urban interface areas, locations where undeveloped and developed lands converge, seem to exhibit genetic alterations that may clarify their increased susceptibility to certain cancers and other illnesses, as indicated by a research study conducted by the University of Michigan.
In partnership with the fire departments of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, federal and local agencies, alongside public health and medical researchers from UCLA, the University of Miami, and the University of Arizona, the team analyzed blood samples from the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study to investigate variations in microRNAs and DNA methylation among firefighters who encountered wildland-urban interface fires and those who did not.
Firefighters addressing wildland urban interface fires confront distinct occupational risks from exposure to a complex blend of substances resulting from burning flora, structures, vehicles, and other human-made products, frequently without respiratory protection and for prolonged durations. The release of the study in Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis occurs as Los Angeles is recovering from catastrophic fires in January and amid evidence that climate change is escalating fire hazards globally.
“The molecular alterations we are observing may shed light on why firefighters experience higher incidences of certain cancers and other health issues as their careers progress. By understanding these biological mechanisms, we can identify potential targets for creating protective measures that might mitigate health risks for firefighters,” stated Jackie Goodrich, the principal author of the study and research associate professor of environmental health sciences at the U-M School of Public Health.
A significant finding of the study indicated that 50 microRNAs had altered during the 10-month follow-up in firefighters who responded to at least one WUI fire. Specifically, one microRNA known for its tumor-suppressing properties was reduced in firefighters who had engaged in a WUI fire within the previous 10 months compared to those who had not. Overall, the impacted microRNAs are involved in the regulation of immune responses, inflammation, neurological disorders, and cancer, among other health conditions and diseases. No notable changes in DNA methylation were detected.
“This research expands on previous findings from our studies involving firefighters that demonstrate the accumulation of epigenetic changes due to years of exposure. These new results imply that even exposure to isolated significant events such as WUI fires can provoke alterations in microRNA expression connected to various disease pathways,” Goodrich remarked. “Our future steps involve determining whether these changes are long-lasting and devising interventions that could safeguard firefighter health.”