Objectives: To assess the association between exposure, oxidative stress, symptoms, and cardiorespiratory function in wildland firefighters.
Methods: We studied two Interagency Hotshot Crews with questionnaires, pulse wave analysis for arterial stiffness, spirometry, urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-isoprostane) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and the smoke exposure marker (urinary levoglucosan). Arterial stiffness was assessed by examining levels of the aortic augmentation index, expressed as a percentage. An oxidative stress score comprising the average of z-scores created for 8-OHdG and 8-isoprostane was calculated.
Results: Mean augmentation index % was higher for participants with higher oxidative stress scores after adjusting for smoking status. Specifically for every one unit increase in oxidative stress score the augmentation index % increased 10.5% (95% CI: 2.5, 18.5%). Higher mean lower respiratory symptom score was associated with lower percent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity.
Conclusions: Biomarkers of oxidative stress may serve as indicators of arterial stiffness in wildland firefighters.
Keywords: 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine; 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α; levoglucosan; spirometry; vascular stiffness.
© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.