Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA 90-0365-2415: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Yosemite National Park, California

Details

• Personal Author:
  Deitchman, Scott D. ; Letts, Deanna ; Reh, Christopher M.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In response to a request from the US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, an investigation was begun into possible hazardous exposures for workers fighting the Arch Rock Fire (SIC- 0851) in Yosemite National Park, California. The survey assessed exposure to carbon-monoxide (630080) (CO), sulfur-dioxide (7446095) (SO2), nitrogen-dioxide (10102440), respirable particulate matter, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, aldehydes, and acid gases. Samples of new and washed bandannas, often used for respiratory protection by firefighters, were also measured to determine the pore size. Cross shift changes in lung function, CO levels in exhaled breath, and respiratory and central nervous system symptoms were monitored. The study determined that there was a hazard at the operation, with three CO exposure concentrations being above the adjusted guideline of 21 parts per million (ppm) and two of the 11 exposure concentrations for SO2 being above the NIOSH recommended exposure limit of 2.0ppm. Evidence was also gathered which suggested that there were acute changes in lung function associated with the activities of Type-I crew members. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard existed from exposure to carbon-monoxide and sulfur dioxide. The authors recommend that respiratory protection and respiratory surveillance programs be instituted.
• Subjects:
  Environmental Monitoring Firefighters Forestry Hazardous Substances Lung Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Sulfur Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Air-quality-monitoring Breath Analysis Carbon Monoxide Carboxyhemoglobin Central Nervous System Symptoms Combustion-products Extended Workshifts Fire-fighting Firemen Forest Fire Fighting Forestry-workers Forestry Services Hazard-Confirmed HETA-90-0365-2415 Lung Function Tests NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report Occupational-exposure OSHA Region 9 Pulmonary-function Respiratory Symptoms Sulfur Dioxide Toxic-gases

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• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• Subseries:
  Health Evaluation and Technical Assistance (HETA)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHETA9003652415
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  67 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Hankinson, John L. ; Miller, Michael E. ; Breysse, Patrick N. ; Elliott, Larry J. ; Blade, Leo M. ; Sussell, Aaron L. ; Daniels, Willaim ; Boyd, James ; Coleman, Marian
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00227192
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB95-242541
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 90-0365-2415, 1994 Apr ; :1-56
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0) ; Sulfur dioxide (CAS RN 7446-09-5) ; Nitrogen dioxide (CAS RN 10102-44-0)
• Editor(s):
  Pfirman, Donna M.
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1994
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  0851 - Forestry services - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2a4289e69959ee12493ca59c29fe99f71299ac80b9c0db6f3379785ca1094b56d96afe8e4bf93e9c501152bcdd095587be96a7ad66b228ab62c6a949aab9c1f2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/171280/cdc_171280_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 16.45 MB ]