# Understanding and Communicating Reproductive Health Consequences for Male Wildland Firefighters

> **NIH ALLCDC R21** · COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $171,658

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Wildfire activity is increasing resulting in greater numbers of firefighters conducting suppression and prescribed
fire activities each year to protect lives and property. In conducting these activities, individuals are exposed to
occupational factors that increase the risk of acute and chronic illness, including prolonged and elevated
exposure to smoke particulate. Fine smoke particulate is known to penetrate the lung and has recently been
associated with impacts outside the lung including in the reproductive system. In fact, our lab has
demonstrated that laboratory generated wildfire smoke exposure at occupationally relevant levels alters sperm
epigenetic patterns in a mouse model. The National Fire Service Research Agenda Report recently highlighted
the potential for reproductive risk and stated that infertility issues that result from being a firefighter should be a
priority research objective. In response, we have designed three aims to determine the extent to which wildland
firefighter activities, particularly wildfire smoke inhalation, impacts fertility among male wildland firefighters. For
Aim 1, among 100 wildland firefighters, we will assess cross-season paired samples for concentrations of
motile sperm as a marker of fertility and in Aim 2 we will quantify epigenetic modifications in a subset of 50
wildland firefighters as a predictor of quality and offspring health. The outcome of Aims 1 and 2 will be the first
characterization of adverse sperm parameters and molecular changes that occur in wildland firefighters
following occupational exposure to smoke, which will inform early detection and intervention strategies for
occupation-related infertility issues. For Aim 3, we will combine the findings from our study with other current
literature to craft messaging material informing firefighter personnel about the potential adverse exposure
impacts, as well as precautionary measures which may protect their reproductive health. We will seek
feedback via wildland firefighter focus groups (n=20) on how to craft the message as well as what they view as
trusted channels for dissemination. The outcome to Aim 3 will be a strategic communication plan that can be
adopted and modified by the fire service to enhance the reproductive health and wellbeing of male wildland
firefighters.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10953131
- **Project number:** 1R21OH012750-01
- **Recipient organization:** COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Luke Benjamin Montrose
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $171,658
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10953131

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10953131, Understanding and Communicating Reproductive Health Consequences for Male Wildland Firefighters (1R21OH012750-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10953131. Licensed CC0.

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