Materna B L, Jones J R, Sutton P M, Rothman N, Harrison R J
California Public Health Foundation, Berkeley 94704.
Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1992 Jan;53(1):69-76. doi: 10.1080/15298669291359311.
Industrial hygiene measurement of exposures to wildland fire fighters was conducted in northern California during three consecutive fire seasons (1986-1989) in conjunction with three separate health effects studies. Chemicals that were monitored included carbon monoxide, total and respirable particulates, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), crystalline silica, aldehydes, and benzene. Measurements were taken at both wildland fires and prescribed (planned) burns. A variety of collection methods were employed--colorimetric detector tubes and a CO monitor were used for direct-reading area measurements; colorimetric diffusion tubes, filter cassettes, sorbent tubes, and passive vapor monitors were used for determining personal time-weighted average exposures. A new screening method (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Method 2539) was used to identify the presence of specific aldehydes. Results show that wildland fire fighters may at times be exposed to concentrations of carbon monoxide, total or respirable particulates, or silica at levels near or higher than recommended occupational exposure limits, although group means were generally well below the limits. Time-weighted average formaldehyde levels, measured in a few instances above 0.37 mg/m3 (0.3 ppm), indicate a potential for formaldehyde-induced eye or respiratory irritation under these conditions. Certain characteristics of the work such as high altitude, temperature, and breathing rate; extended work shifts; and additional off-shift exposures suggest that adjustment of 8-hr exposure limits may be necessary to provide adequate protection. In part, because of the rigors of performing industrial hygiene measurements under fire fighting conditions, data are limited and could not be considered representative of the full range of exposures fire fighters may encounter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
在加利福尼亚州北部，于连续三个火灾季节（1986 - 1989年）期间，结合三项独立的健康影响研究，对野外消防员的接触情况进行了工业卫生测量。所监测的化学物质包括一氧化碳、总颗粒物和可吸入颗粒物、多环芳烃（PAHs）、结晶二氧化硅、醛类和苯。在野外火灾和计划烧除时均进行了测量。采用了多种收集方法——比色检测管和一氧化碳监测仪用于直接读取区域测量数据；比色扩散管、滤膜盒、吸附管和被动式蒸汽监测仪用于确定个人时间加权平均接触量。一种新的筛查方法（美国国家职业安全与健康研究所方法2539）用于识别特定醛类的存在。结果表明，野外消防员有时可能接触到的一氧化碳、总颗粒物或可吸入颗粒物、或二氧化硅的浓度接近或高于推荐的职业接触限值，尽管总体平均值通常远低于这些限值。在少数情况下测得的时间加权平均甲醛水平高于0.37毫克/立方米（0.3 ppm），这表明在这些条件下存在甲醛引起眼睛或呼吸道刺激的可能性。工作的某些特点，如高海拔、温度和呼吸频率；延长的工作班次；以及额外的非工作班次接触，表明可能需要调整8小时接触限值以提供充分的保护。部分由于在灭火条件下进行工业卫生测量的严格性，数据有限，不能被视为代表消防员可能遇到的全部接触范围。（摘要截短为250字）
