Chemical composition of burnt smell caused by accidental fires: environmental contaminants

The chemical composition of the odors typical of fires has recently been deciphered. Basically the constituents are mixtures of acetophenone, benzyl alcohol, hydroxylated derivatives of benzaldehyde, methoxylated and/or alkylated phenols and naphthalene. This finding makes it possible to develop objective, practical analytic measurement methods for the burnt smell as a contribution to improving fire damage assessment and remediation monitoring. With the aid of an artificially produced burnt smell and a panel of testers the odor detection threshold of a test mixture was determined olfactometrically to 2 μg m⁻³. Using a defined burnt-smell atmosphere in a test chamber, analytical methods with active sampling, the adsorbents XAD 7 and TENAX TA, and GC/MS measurement were then optimized and tested with a view to being able to carry out sensitive quantitative measurement of burnt smells. A further practical method with particular application to the qualitative characterization of this odor is based on the use of a new SPME (solid-phase microextraction) field sampler with DVB/CAR/PDMS (divinylbenzene/Carboxen™/polydimethylsiloxane) fibers.     

An occupational exposure assessment of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans in firefighters

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) are unintentional byproducts of combustion and industrial processes. Firefighters face the risk of occupational exposure to PCDD/Fs. Congener-specific analyses of 17 PCDD/Fs were performed on 20 serum samples collected from firefighters and fire scene investigators, and four soot samples that had deposited on the surfaces of the fire helmets and were collected after the firefighters had fought fires. The PCDD/F concentrations on the helmets that were contaminated by being worn at the fire scenes were 63-285 times higher than those on a clean helmet. The median serum PCDD/F concentration of the 16 firefighters (12 pg WHO₂₀₀₅-TEQ g⁻¹ lipid) was not different from those of the males from the general Taiwanese population (9.4 pg WHO₂₀₀₅-TEQ g⁻¹ lipid). However, the median PCDD/F level in the four fire scene investigators (15 pg WHO₂₀₀₅-TEQ g⁻¹ lipid) was higher than those in the male from the general Taiwanese population (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the serum samples from the firefighters and fire scene investigators, and the soot samples from the fire scenes presented similarly distinctive PCDD/F profiles that had elevated proportions for 10 PCDF congeners. Limited data indicated that the fire scene investigators were occupationally exposed to PCDD/Fs at the fire scenes. We suggested that the firefighters were not occupationally exposed to PCDD/Fs at the fire scenes due to appropriate protection. However, the fire scene investigators may have had more occupational exposure to PCDD/Fs due to poor protection, and further research must be performed to confirm this.     

Nitrogen deposition effects on Mediterranean-type ecosystems: an ecological assessment

We review the ecological consequences of N deposition on the five Mediterranean regions of the world. Seasonality of precipitation and fires regulate the N cycle in these water-limited ecosystems, where dry N deposition dominates. Nitrogen accumulation in soils and on plant surfaces results in peaks of availability with the first winter rains. Decoupling between N flushes and plant demand promotes losses via leaching and gas emissions. Differences in P availability may control the response to N inputs and susceptibility to exotic plant invasion. Invasive grasses accumulate as fuel during the dry season, altering fire regimes. California and the Mediterranean Basin are the most threatened by N deposition; however, there is limited evidence for N deposition impacts outside of California. Consequently, more research is needed to determine critical loads for each region and vegetation type based on the most sensitive elements, such as changes in lichen species composition and N cycling.     

真实大空间建筑物火灾场模拟研究

根据一真实火灾调查报告设定了真实大空间建筑物开口情况和材料燃烧性能参数,建立了FDS(Fire Dy-namics Simulator)物理模型。计算了火灾释热速率以及着火大空间烟气的温度场和一氧化碳浓度场的变化。研究结果表明:火灾短时间发生轰燃,随后发生回燃。轰燃是导致大量人员死亡的1个重要原因;回燃没有引起各点烟气的温度和一氧化碳浓度显著的提高,但对各点烟气的温度和一氧化碳浓度的保持起到较大作用。     

电缆火灾的危害及其防治对策

简述电缆火灾的危害，分析电缆火灾的原因及特点，提出电缆火灾的防范措施和处理方法。     

燃烧风洞的研制及其燃烧特性研究

本文介绍了为可燃物燃烧特性研究而建立起来的模拟自然环境条件的燃烧风洞设备以及在燃烧设备中进行的模拟火场的火蔓延特性研究。在燃烧风洞中进行的可燃物燃烧实验为林火机理的研究、火蔓延模型的建立提供了实验依据．     

建设城市中的防火安全系统

本文根据调查分析，指出建设城市防火安全系统的迫切性。阐述了建设城市防火安全系统的基本原理和规划方法。并探讨了城市防火安全系统的运用管理。     

烟草行业的火灾特点及其监测方法的讨论

烟厂是火灾危险性较大的部门，加强其火灾的早期探测报警是防止火灾发生、减少火灾损失的重要方面。本文对烟厂中各主要生产环节的火灾特点作了分析，指出应针对各部分的特殊性采取适当的火灾探测方法并对现在常用的一些火灾探测技术在烟厂中的适用性作了讨论，认为现有的光束式火灾探测器较适用于内部空间较大的烟厂仓库和厂房。对安装了电视监控系统的企业，建议将其与计算机图象分析技术相结合，增加其防火监视功能。     

建筑物火灾的计算机区域模型

本研究运用区域方法模拟了建筑物火灾的发展过程,采用理论分析和经验公式相结合的方法,开发了火灾工程系统软件,分析求解了防火工程中的参数,该模型可为建筑物防火工程设计提供咨询、评估。     

镇江市综合防灾系统中消防信息的输入与管理

本文以镇江市消防地图及其相关信息为对象,分析了消防信息的特点和现有的输入方法,以及作者在设计与建造镇江市消防信息数据库的实践中采用的技术路线和具体方法。