Bolstad-Johnson D M, Burgess J L, Crutchfield C D, Storment S, Gerkin R, Wilson J R
City of Phoenix Personnel, AZ 85003, USA.
AIHAJ. 2000 Sep-Oct;61(5):636-41. doi: 10.1080/15298660008984572.
Previous studies have characterized firefighter exposures during fire suppression. However, minimal information is available regarding firefighter exposures during overhaul, when firefighters look for hidden fire inside attics, ceilings, and walls, often without respiratory protection. A comprehensive air monitoring study was conducted to characterize City of Phoenix firefighter exposures during the overhaul phase of 25 structure fires. Personal samples were collected for aldehydes; benzene; toluene; ethyl benzene; xylene; hydrochloric acid; polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNA); respirable dust; and hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Gas analyzers were employed to continuously monitor carbon monoxide (CO), HCN, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Area samples were collected for asbestos, metals (Cd, Cr, Pb), and total dust. During overhaul the following exceeded published ceiling values: acrolein (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists [ACGIH] 0.1 ppm) at 1 fire; CO (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH] 200 ppm) at 5 fires; formaldehyde (NIOSH 0.1 ppm) at 22 fires; and glutaraldehyde (ACGIH 0.05 ppm) at 5 fires. In addition, the following exceeded published short-term exposure limit values: benzene (NIOSH 1 ppm) at two fires, NO2 (NIOSH 1 ppm) at two fires, and SO2 (ACGIH 5 ppm) at five fires. On an additive effects basis, PNA concentrations exceeded the NIOSH recommended exposure limits (0.1 mg/M3) for coal tar pitch volatiles at two fires. Maximum concentrations of other sampled substances were below their respective permissible exposure limits. Initial 10-min average CO concentrations did not predict concentrations of other products of combustion. The results indicate that firefighters should use respiratory protection during overhaul. In addition, these findings suggest that CO should not be used as an indicator gas for other contaminants found in this atmosphere.
以往的研究已对灭火过程中消防员接触的情况进行了描述。然而，对于消防员在检修阶段的接触情况，相关信息却极少，在此阶段，消防员要在阁楼、天花板和墙壁内寻找隐藏的火源，通常没有呼吸防护装备。开展了一项全面的空气监测研究，以描述凤凰城消防员在25起建筑火灾检修阶段的接触情况。采集了个人样本，检测醛类、苯、甲苯、乙苯、二甲苯、盐酸、多环芳烃（PNA）、可吸入粉尘和氰化氢（HCN）。使用气体分析仪持续监测一氧化碳（CO）、HCN、二氧化氮（NO₂）和二氧化硫（SO₂）。采集了区域样本，检测石棉、金属（镉、铬、铅）和总粉尘。在检修期间，以下物质超过了已公布的上限值：1起火灾中的丙烯醛（美国政府工业卫生学家会议[ACGIH]规定为0.1 ppm）；5起火灾中的CO（美国国家职业安全与健康研究所[NIOSH]规定为200 ppm）；22起火灾中的甲醛（NIOSH规定为0.1 ppm）；5起火灾中的戊二醛（ACGIH规定为0.05 ppm）。此外，以下物质超过了已公布的短期接触限值：2起火灾中的苯（NIOSH规定为1 ppm），2起火灾中的NO₂（NIOSH规定为1 ppm），以及5起火灾中的SO₂（ACGIH规定为5 ppm）。基于相加效应，在2起火灾中，PNA浓度超过了NIOSH对煤焦油沥青挥发物推荐的接触限值（0.1 mg/M³）。其他采样物质的最大浓度均低于各自的允许接触限值。最初10分钟的平均CO浓度无法预测其他燃烧产物的浓度。结果表明，消防员在检修期间应使用呼吸防护装备。此外，这些发现表明，CO不应被用作该环境中其他污染物的指示气体。
