Released: 8/11/2010
5:00 PM EDT
Source: Journal
of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
To
Reduce Exposure, Firefighters Should Use Respiratory
Protection More Consistently
Exposure
to high levels of ultrafine particles—invisible
particles that can reach the smallest air passages
in the lungs—may be an important contributor to the
risk of coronary heart disease in firefighters,
reports a study in the August Journal of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official
publication of the American College of Occupational
and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).
More consistent use of respiratory protective
equipment—especially during the "overhaul" stage of
fire suppression—could reduce firefighters' exposure
to ultrafine particles, and possibly lower coronary
risk.
Led by C. Stuart Baxter, Ph.D., of University of
Cincinnati, the researchers measured levels of
different sizes of respirable (breathable) particles
during test fires, conducted under experimental
conditions. In all types of fires, ultrafine
particles—measuring less than 0.1 microns (1/10,000
of a millimetre)—accounted for more than 70 percent
of all particles.
Levels of ultrafine particles were high throughout
all stages of fire suppression—not only the
"knockdown" phase, when fire fighters work to
extinguish the fire or limit its growth; but also
during the "overhaul" phase, when the goal is to
prevent the fire from reigniting. Exposure may be
especially high during the overhaul phase, when fire
fighters often remove their respiratory protective
equipment.
Coronary events are a major health issue in fire
fighters, causing nearly half of all deaths on duty.
Exposure to ultrafine particles could contribute to
coronary disease in fire fighters—not only as a
long-term health risk, but also as a cause of
coronary events while responding to fires.
To reduce this exposure, Dr. Baxter and co-authors
believe that fire fighters should be encouraged to
use respiratory protective equipment throughout all
phases of fire suppression. They also endorse
previous recommendations for medical screening to
identify and manage coronary risk factors in fire
fighters. The authors also emphasize that more
research is needed to clarify the link between
exposure to ultrafine particles and coronary risk.
About the Author
About ACOEM
ACOEM (www.acoem.org),
an international society of 5,000 occupational
physicians and other health care professionals,
provides leadership to promote optimal health and
safety of workers, workplaces, and environments.
About Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine
The Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine (www.joem.org) is
the official journal of the American College of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Edited to
serve as a guide for physicians, nurses, and
researchers, the clinically oriented research
articles are an excellent source for new ideas,
concepts, techniques, and procedures that can be
readily applied in the industrial or commercial
employment setting.
download pdf
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