title: [Exposure to carbon monoxide in wildland firefighters during wildfires suppression].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health and occupational performance in wildland firefighters are mainly impaired for the carbon monoxide inhalation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the personal exposure to carbon monoxide in wildland firefighters during wildfires suppression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Carbon monoxide exposure was monitorized in 44 subjects during 58 real wildfires. Moreover, we analyzed the time weighted average exposure for an 8h shift (VA-ED). The wildfires were classified according to the work done (direct attack, indirect attack and mixed attack) and the current fuel (grass, bush, understory and mixed).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean exposure to carbon monoxide was of 18,4 ± 1,7 ppm, what supposed a VA-ED of 7,0 ± 1,0 ppm. The highest exposures to carbon monoxide were found during the mixed attack (20,4 ± 2,3 ppm) and direct attack (17,5 ± 2,7 ppm). We only obtained significant differences (p < 0.05) between bush (19,8 ± 2,2) and understory (17,2 ± 3,9) and grass (12,0 ± 5,6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposures to carbon monoxide were influenced for the work done during the wildfires suppression and the type of fuel involved. Mean values obtained in this study were within safety limits described by different Spanish (INSHT) and international (NIOSH, OSHA) occupational safety and health agencies.
authors.affiliation: Empresa de Transformación Agraria SA. (TRAGSA), España.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carballo Leyenda
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Marroyo
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Satué
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avila Ordás
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pernía Cubillo
authors.forename: José Gerardo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Villa Vicente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055814:Wilderness
chemical_list: D002248:Carbon Monoxide