title: Ultrafine particle exposure during fire suppression--is it an important contributory factor for coronary heart disease in firefighters?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the primary cause of death among US firefighters during fire suppression. In other populations, exposure to respirable particles, including ultrafine particles, has been widely implicated as a risk factor for CHD. This study is the first to report detailed characterization of respirable particles released by combustion of an automobile and model residential structures under firefighter exposure conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Characterization was performed when feasible during knockdown and routinely during overhaul.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrafines accounted for >70% of particles in all fire suppression stages, occurring in concentrations exceeding background by factors between 2 (automobile) and 400 (bedroom), consistent among all structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to ultrafine particles during fire suppression should be considered a potential contributing factor for CHD in firefighters. Of major significance is their predominance during overhaul, where firefighters frequently remove respiratory protection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati Academic Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0056, USA. c.stuart.baxter@uc.edu
authors.forename: C Stuart
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: Clara Sue
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fabian
authors.forename: Jacob L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Borgerson
authors.forename: Jamila
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shawon
authors.forename: Pravinray D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lockey
mesh_terms: D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter