Wildfire Smoke Increases Health Risks for Firefighters, New Research Finds

Graphical abstract

Paper: Impact of wildfire emissions exposure on the associations between levels of lung injury, lipid peroxidation, DNA oxidation, and exposure biomarkers

A new study has found that wildland firefighters are exposed to harmful substances during wildfire suppression that can increase their risk of serious health problems - including lung damage, oxidative stress, and even cancer.

Researchers tested urine samples from firefighters before and after they fought wildfires. They found clear signs of health impact:

• Lung injury markers rose by 39%

• Oxidative stress indicators increased by up to 33%

• Exposure to harmful chemicals (PAHs) increased by 75–211%

• Metal exposure (including lead, copper, and cadmium) rose by up to 43%

These changes were most noticeable in non-smokers, suggesting firefighting exposure alone had a major effect. Smokers, however, showed even higher baseline levels of harmful chemicals - in some cases 14 times greater than non-smokers - and suffered more damage from metal exposure.

One key finding was that CC16, a marker of lung injury, was the most reliable indicator of health impact. It was strongly linked to both chemical and metal exposure from wildfire smoke.

This study highlights the urgent need for better health monitoring and protection for firefighters - especially as wildfires become more frequent and intense.

Why it matters: For those living or working on moorlands, this research reinforces the importance of proactive wildfire prevention - including controlled burning - to reduce the need for high-risk emergency response and to protect both people and the landscape.

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