Gianniou N, et al. - Researchers evaluated respiratory health and airway and systemic inflammation in professional forest firefighters post firefighting. In firefighters who participated in forest firefighting operations in Greece during 2008, symptoms and exposure, pulmonary function, atopy, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and markers of inflammation in induced sputum, serum, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were evaluated. The burden of chronic airway and systemic inflammation was seen to be augmented by repeated acute exposures during firefighting. Furthermore, such exposures may ultimately cause allergic sensitization of the airways. Prolonged exposure may increase the incidence of rhinitis and asthma.