Background: Fire-eating is an activity mainly carried out by inner-city poorest subjects as a way to obtain money. Scant information has been reported concerning the consequences of this activity on lung function.
Methods: This study was accomplished in the streets of Mexico City by performing spirometric studies on 30 fire-eaters prior to and after their daily activity; in 16 of these subjects these studies were also conducted after salbutamol inhalation.
Results: All fire-eaters were males, 27.9 +/- 1.1 years of age (mean +/- standard error of the mean). Up to two thirds showed abnormalities in baseline spirometry (11 with an obstructive pattern and 9 with mixed pattern) not related to a smoking habit or drug abuse. Number of years in the fire-eating activity was inversely correlated with FEF50 (r=-0.46, p<0.01) and FEF75 (r=-0.33, p<0.05). Likewise, body mass index was inversely correlated with FEF25 and FEF50. These results were corroborated with multiple regression analysis. At the end of daily fire-eating activity, further diminution of FEF75 was observed (-7.6 +/- 1.4%, p<0.01). Aerosolized salbutamol caused statistically significant increment (p<0.05 to p<0.01) in nearly all spirometric variables, although on an individual basis only 10 of 16 (63%) had positive bronchodilation response.
Conclusions: Fire-eaters showed a mild decrease of airflows, which partially correlated with number of years spent in this activity. After a 1-day fire-eating activity, further airflow limitation increased. Up to 63% of subjects tested improved some spirometric airflow value after salbutamol inhalation.