J Korean Med Assoc.  2008 Dec;51(12):1072-1077. 10.5124/jkma.2008.51.12.1072.

Hazards Exposed to Firefighters in Fire: Physical, Chemical, and Biologic factors

• Kim JM
• Lee HJ

• KMID: 2185966
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2008.51.12.1072

Abstract

According to National Emergency Management Agency in Korea, numbers of death and injured in firefighters were 34 and 1,555 persons, respectively, between 2003 and 2007. Firefighting is a very dangerous and difficult work because of physical, chemical, and biological hazards. Firstly, physical hazards include burn induced by smoke and other combustion products, heat, noise, and ergonomic factors. Secondly, chemical hazards include chemical asphyxiants such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen sulfide, simple asphyxiants such as carbon dioxide, chemical irritants including as hydrogen chloride, and acrolein, and so on, and other carcinogens. Finally, biological hazards include infectious agents such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, and so forth. We expect this study to help management andpromotion of firefighters' health.

Keyword

Fire; Firefighter; Hazard; Health

MeSH Terms

Acrolein
Biological Factors
Burns
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Carcinogens
Emergencies
Firefighters
Fires
Hepatitis
Hot Temperature
Humans
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrogen Cyanide
Hydrogen Sulfide
Irritants
Korea
Noise
Smoke
Tuberculosis
Acrolein
Biological Factors
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Carcinogens
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrogen Cyanide
Hydrogen Sulfide
Irritants
Smoke

Reference

1. Kim DG, Ha IH, Lee CH. Work-related disease and health management of fire fighters. Korean Industrial Health Association. 1997. 113:27–34.

2. Federal Emergency Managment Agency. USFA firefighter fatalities in the United States in 2000. 2001. Emmitsburg: Federal Emergency Management Agency.

3. National Fire Protection Association. 1996. Quincy: National Fire Protection Association.

4. Cook M, Simon PA, Hoffman RE. Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning in Colorado, 1986 through 1991. Am J Public Health. 1995. 85:988–990.

5. Smith DL, Petruzzello SJ, Kramer JM, Misner JE. Physiologic, psychophysical, and psychological responses of firefighters to firefighting training drills. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1996. 67:1063–1068.

6. Reischl U, Bair HS Jr, Reischl P. Fire fighter noise exposure. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1979. 40:482–489.

7. Tubbs RL. Occupational noise exposure and hearing loss in fire fighters assigned to airport fire stations. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1991. 52:372–378.

8. Kales SN, Freyman RL, Hill JM, Polyhronopoulos GN, Aldrich JM, Christiani DC. Firefighters' hearing: a comparison with population databases from the International Standards Organization. J Occup Environ Med. 2001. 43:650–656.

9. Tubbs RL. Noise and hearing loss in firefighting. Occup Med. 1995. 10:843–856.

10. Karter MJJ, Badger SG. US firefighter injuries in 2000. Natl Fire Protect Agency J. 2001. 95:50–54.

11. Karter MJ Jr, LeBlanc PR. 1995 U.S. firefighter injuries. NFPA J. 1996. 103–112.

12. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Proposed National Strategy for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Injuries. DHHS publication 89-129. 1986. Washington, DC: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

13. Malley KS, Goldstein AM, Aldrich TK, Kelly KJ, Weiden M, Coplan N, Karwa ML, Prezant DJ. Effects of fire fighting uniform (modern, modified modern, and traditional) design changes on exercise duration in New York City Firefighters. J Occup Environ Med. 1999. 41:1104–1115.

14. Terrill JB, Montgomery RR, Reinhardt CF. Toxic gases form fires. Science. 1978. 200:1343–1347.

15. Purser DA. SEPE. Toxicity assessment of combustion products. Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering. 1995. 2nd ed. Boston: National Fire Protection Association;85–146.

16. Jancovic J, Jones W, Burkhart J, Noonan G. Environment study of firefighters. Ann Occup Hyg. 1991. 35:581–602.

17. Treitman R, Burgess WA, Gold A. Air contaminants encountered by fire fighters. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1980. 41:796–802.

18. Burgess WA, Sidor R, Lynch JJ, Buchanan P, Clougherty E. Minimum protection factors for respiratory protective divices for firefighters. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1977. 38:18–23.

19. Shusterman DJ. Clinical smoke inhalation injury: systemic effects. Occup Med. 1993. 8:469–503.

20. Levine MS, Radford EP. Occupational exposures to cyanide in Baltimore firefighters. J Occup Med. 1978. 20:53.

21. Burgess WA, Treitman RD, Gold A. Air contaminants in structural fire fighting. NFPCA grant 7X008. 1979. Boston: Harvard School of Public Health.

22. Kirk M. Goldfrank LR, editor. Smoke inhalation. Toxocologic Emergencies. 1994. 5th ed. Norwalk: Appleton & Lange;1187–1197.

23. Schwartz DA. Acute inhalational injury. Occup Med. 1987. 2:297–318.

24. Baxter PJ, Adams PH, Aw TC, Cockcroft A, Harrington JM. Hunter's diesease of ocuupations. 2000. 9th ed. London: Arnold;129–131.

25. Bolstad-Johnson DM, Burgess JL, Crutchfield CD, Storment S, Gerkin R, Wilson JR. Characterization of firefighter exposures during fire overhaul. AIHAJ. 2000. 61:636–641.

26. Reed E, Daya MR, Jui J, Grellman K, Gerber L, Loveless MO. Occupational infectious disease exposures in EMS personnel. J Emerg Med. 1993. 11:9–16.