Firefighter Soot, Sauna, and Sweat Excretion Pilot Study
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Cancer
In brief
The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether sauna use after active-duty firefighting is effective in reducing exposure to certain harmful chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are found in soot and several types are known to be carcinogens. This study is a cross-sectional pilot study that will be performed in active-duty firefighters. The firefighters will be subdivided into those who will use a sauna immediately after fighting a fire versus those who will not, the latter of which will serve as a metabolism control group. There will thus be two comparison groups within the study: 1) active-duty firefighters using a sauna after fire suppression (sauna group); 2) active-duty firefighters not using a sauna after fire suppression (metabolism control).
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT05256966
- Run by
- HealthPartners Institute
- People needed
- 86
- Starts
- 2021-11-01
- Expected to finish
- 2024-05-30
- Last updated by the study team
- 2025-07-15
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Willingness to collect urine samples before, during, and/or after work shift
- Willingness to refrain from eating barbecued or smoked foods during the duration of the study
- Willingness to use a sauna after active fire suppression and to collect sweat samples at that time
You may not qualify if…
- Declined participation in the study
- Unwilling or do not agree to complete all data collection components of the study
- Limited from active-duty firefighting (regardless of reason)
- Medical conditions precluding the use of a sauna
- Pregnancy (as sauna use is contraindicated in pregnancy)
Where it is running
- HealthPartners Institute — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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