Carbon monoxide exposures in wildland firefighters in the United States and targets for exposure reduction.
Carbon monoxide
Occupational
Prevention
Wildland firefighter
Journal
Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology
ISSN: 1559-064X
Titre abrégé: J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101262796
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 2021
09 2021
Historique:
received:
09
03
2021
accepted:
07
07
2021
revised:
01
07
2021
pubmed:
22
7
2021
medline:
22
1
2022
entrez:
21
7
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Every year thousands of wildland firefighters (WFFs) work to suppress wildfires to protect public safety, health, and property. Although much effort has been put toward mitigating air pollutant exposures for the public and WFFs, the current burden in this worker population is unclear as are the most effective exposure reduction strategies. Quantify fireline carbon monoxide (CO) exposures in WFFs and identify predictors of exposures. We collected 1-min breathing zone CO measurements on 246 WFFs assigned to fires between 2015 and 2017. We used generalized estimating equations to evaluate predictors of CO exposure. Approximately 5% of WFFs had fireline CO exposure means exceeding the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's occupational exposure limit of 16 ppm. Relative to operational breaks, direct suppression-related job tasks were associated with 56% (95% CI: 47%, 65%) higher geometric mean CO concentrations, adjusted for incident type, crew type, and fire location. WFF perception of smoke exposure was a strong predictor of measured CO exposure. Specific job tasks related to direct suppression and WFF perceptions of smoke exposure are potential opportunities for targeted interventions aimed at minimizing exposure to smoke.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Every year thousands of wildland firefighters (WFFs) work to suppress wildfires to protect public safety, health, and property. Although much effort has been put toward mitigating air pollutant exposures for the public and WFFs, the current burden in this worker population is unclear as are the most effective exposure reduction strategies.
OBJECTIVE
Quantify fireline carbon monoxide (CO) exposures in WFFs and identify predictors of exposures.
METHODS
We collected 1-min breathing zone CO measurements on 246 WFFs assigned to fires between 2015 and 2017. We used generalized estimating equations to evaluate predictors of CO exposure.
RESULTS
Approximately 5% of WFFs had fireline CO exposure means exceeding the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's occupational exposure limit of 16 ppm. Relative to operational breaks, direct suppression-related job tasks were associated with 56% (95% CI: 47%, 65%) higher geometric mean CO concentrations, adjusted for incident type, crew type, and fire location. WFF perception of smoke exposure was a strong predictor of measured CO exposure.
SIGNIFICANCE
Specific job tasks related to direct suppression and WFF perceptions of smoke exposure are potential opportunities for targeted interventions aimed at minimizing exposure to smoke.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34285366
doi: 10.1038/s41370-021-00371-z
pii: 10.1038/s41370-021-00371-z
pmc: PMC8448930
mid: NIHMS1722471
doi:
Substances chimiques
Smoke
0
Carbon Monoxide
7U1EE4V452
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
923-929Subventions
Organisme : NIGMS NIH HHS
ID : P20 GM130418
Pays : United States
Organisme : NIOSH CDC HHS
ID : R21 OH011385
Pays : United States
Organisme : ACL HHS
ID : R21OH011385
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.
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