A recent study by UTHealth Houston has found that firefighters exposed to smoke experience biological changes that may increase their risk of developing cancer. The research, published in Environmental Research, is among the first to connect real-world fire smoke exposure with measurable changes in gene activity within the skin and blood of firefighters.
The study was led by Jooyeon Hwang, PhD, associate professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. Researchers examined both the protective gear used by firefighters and their microRNA levels. MicroRNAs are molecules involved in regulating gene activity.
Findings indicated that exposure to fires resulted in detectable changes in microRNA expression. These changes were specifically linked to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—harmful chemicals present in smoke and soot—which have been associated with long-term health risks such as cancer.
“While the public often sees the immediate and obvious dangers of firefighting, there are growing concerns about what happens inside the body with repeated exposure to fire environments,” said Hwang, who also serves as deputy director of Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and program director of Industrial Hygiene and Exposure Sciences at the School of Public Health. “Our research is just one example of the kind of work that needs to continue so we can fully understand and reduce long-term health risks for firefighters, especially for the next generation. It also underscores the importance of ongoing education and prevention efforts to limit exposure and better protect those on the front lines.”
The research team included Jenny R. Gipson; Chao Xu, PhD; Robert Agnew, PhD; and Willard Freeman, PhD from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
