Characterization of Firefighter Exposures During Fire Overhaul

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bolstad-Johnson DM ; Burgess JL ; Crutchfield CD ; Gerkin R ; Storment S ; Wilson JR
• Description:
  Previous studies have characterized firefighter exposures during fire suppression. However, minimal information is available regarding firefighter exposures during overhaul, when firefighters look for hidden fire inside attics, ceilings, and walls, often without respiratory protection. A comprehensive air monitoring study was conducted to characterize City of Phoenix firefighter exposures during the overhaul phase of 25 structure fires. Personal samples were collected for aldehydes; benzene; toluene; ethyl benzene; xylene; hydrochloric acid; polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNA); respirable dust; and hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Gas analyzers were employed to continuously monitor carbon monoxide (CO), HCN, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Area samples were collected for asbestos, metals (Cd, Cr, Pb), and total dust. During overhaul the following exceeded published ceiling values: acrolein (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists [ACGIH] 0.1 ppm) at 1 fire; CO (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH] 200 ppm) at 5 fires; formaldehyde (NIOSH 0.1 ppm) at 22 fires; and glutaraldehyde (ACGIH 0.05 ppm) at 5 fires. In addition, the following exceeded published short-term exposure limit values: benzene (NIOSH 1 ppm) at two fires, NO2 (NIOSH 1 ppm) at two fires, and SO2 (ACGIH 5 ppm) at five fires. On an additive effects basis, PNA concentrations exceeded the NIOSH recommended exposure limits (0.1 mg/M3) for coal tar pitch volatiles at two fires. Maximum concentrations of other sampled substances were below their respective permissible exposure limits. Initial 10-min average CO concentrations did not predict concentrations of other products of combustion. The results indicate that firefighters should use respiratory protection during overhaul. In addition, these findings suggest that CO should not be used as an indicator gas for other contaminants found in this atmosphere. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aldehydes Benzene Cyanides Dust Firefighters Fires Formaldehyde Hydrocarbons Lung Lung Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Smoke Toluene Xylenes

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Characterization Of Hazards During Fire Overhaul Benzenes Fire-fighters Fire-fighting Fire-safety Fire Overhaul Fire Overhaul Contaminants Lung-disease Lung-disorders Lung-function Occupational-exposure Personal-protective-equipment Polynuclear-aromatic-hydrocarbons Pulmonary-system-disorders Recommended Respiratory Protection Respirable-dust Respirators Respiratory-protection Respiratory-protective-equipment Respiratory-system-disorders Smoke-inhalation Toluenes

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• ISSN:
  0002-8894
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Arizona ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20024412
• Citation:
  Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 2000 Sep/Oct; 61(5):636-641
• Contact Point Address:
  City of Phoenix Personnel Department Safety Section, 135 North Second Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003
• CAS Registry Number:
  Benzene (CAS RN 71-43-2) ; Ethylbenzene (CAS RN 100-41-4) ; Glutaraldehyde (CAS RN 111-30-8) ; Hydrochloric acid (CAS RN 7647-01-0) ; Sulfur dioxide (CAS RN 7446-09-5) ; Toluene (CAS RN 108-88-3) ; Xylene (CAS RN 1330-20-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2000
• Performing Organization:
  University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19980930
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
• End Date:
  20010930
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ab5300e2c8d2f3712dbcd3075d5bd79f1c46425b395456a86a9ffff05f526657d4ee9f5a3378bf8f2bf2551397bc4159acaed9bf941130542076847d0faad9bf
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/196228/cdc_196228_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 300.62 KB ]