Monitoring of firefighters exposure to smoke during fire experiments in Portugal.
Forest fires represent a serious threat to public security in Europe due to the large burned area. Moreover, smoke pollution due to forest fire events is an important public health issue for the communities directly affected, and particularly for the personnel involved in firefighting operations. Aiming to contribute to the scientific knowledge concerning firefighters exposure to forest fires smoke, data of individual exposure to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter were obtained during experimental field fires for a group of 10 firefighters equipped with portable "in continuum" measuring devices. Measured values are very high exceeding the Occupational Exposure Standard limits, in particular for peak limit thresholds. These are the first measurements and analysis of firefighter's individual exposure to toxic gases and particles in fire smoke experiments in Europe. However, they already indicate that urgent measures to avoid these levels of exposure are needed.
Miranda
Ana Isabel
AI
CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. miranda@ua.pt
Martins
Vera
V
Cascão
Pedro
P
Amorim
Jorge Humberto
JH
Valente
Joana
J
Tavares
Richard
R
Borrego
Carlos
C
Tchepel
Oxana
O
Ferreira
António Jorge
AJ
Cordeiro
Carlos Robalo
CR
Viegas
Domingos Xavier
DX
Ribeiro
Luís Mário
LM
Pita
Luís Paulo
LP
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D011174:Portugal; D012906:Smoke / Q000032:analysis*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012906:Smoke; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide