Monitoring of firefighters exposure to smoke during fire experiments in Portugal |
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Authors: | Ana Isabel Miranda Vera Martins Pedro Cascão Jorge Humberto Amorim Joana Valente Richard Tavares Carlos Borrego Oxana Tchepel António Jorge Ferreira Carlos Robalo Cordeiro Domingos Xavier Viegas Luís Mário Ribeiro Luís Paulo Pita |
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Institution: | 1. CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;2. Centre of Pulmonology of Coimbra University Medical School, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal;3. Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics, University of Coimbra, 3031-601 Coimbra, Portugal |
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Abstract: | Forest fires represent a serious threat to public security in Europe due to the large burned area. Moreover, smoke pollution due to forest fire events is an important public health issue for the communities directly affected, and particularly for the personnel involved in firefighting operations. Aiming to contribute to the scientific knowledge concerning firefighters exposure to forest fires smoke, data of individual exposure to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter were obtained during experimental field fires for a group of 10 firefighters equipped with portable “in continuum” measuring devices. Measured values are very high exceeding the Occupational Exposure Standard limits, in particular for peak limit thresholds. These are the first measurements and analysis of firefighter's individual exposure to toxic gases and particles in fire smoke experiments in Europe. However, they already indicate that urgent measures to avoid these levels of exposure are needed. |
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