REVIEW PAPER
A systematic review of the health impacts of occupational exposure to wildland fires
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1
Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Thunder Bay, Canada
(Clinical Sciences)
2
Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
(Department of Family Medicine)
3
Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada
(Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response)
4
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
(Department of Medicine)
5
Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada
(Environmental and Occupational Health)
Online publication date: 2019-03-26
Corresponding author
Ray Copes
Public Health Ontario, Environmental and Occupational Health, 480 University Avenue, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5G1V2
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(2):121-40
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ABSTRACT
The aim of the paper is to summarize the evidence of health impacts of occupational exposure to wildland fires. The authors searched 3 databases
for relevant articles and screened the results. After full-text review, articles were included based on pre-determined criteria. The authors identified
32 relevant articles. Occupational exposure to wildland fires affects lung function in the short term and may increase the risk of hypertension in
the long term. Exposure to wildland fires is also associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms. There was insufficient evidence to comment on most
longer-term risks, and in particular on respiratory disease or cancer risks. Further research is required to understand whether occupational exposure
to wildland fires results in clinically significant impacts on respiratory function, and to further clarify the relationship between occupational exposure
and blood pressure, mental health, and cancer outcomes. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(2):121–40