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Firefighters' Risk For Heart Disease May Be Increased By Ultrafine = Air=20 Particles

Main Category: Res= piratory=20 / Asthma
Also Included In: Heart=20 Disease; Public=20 Health
Article Date: 30 Sep 2010 - 1:00 PDT

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Firefighters=20 are exposed to potentially dangerous levels of ultrafine particulates at = the=20 time they are least likely to wear protective breathing equipment. = Because of=20 this, researchers believe firefighters may face an increased risk for = heart=20 disease from exposures during the fire suppression process.

Coronary = heart=20 disease is the No. 1 killer of American firefighters, with many of = these=20 incidents taking place during or just after a firefighting incident. = Researchers=20 say exposure to these harmful ultrafine air particulates could = predispose=20 firefighters to heart disease - particularly in those at a = less-than-optimal=20 level of physical fitness or personal health.

In a study = conducted=20 collaboratively by the University of Cincinnati (UC), Underwriters = Laboratories=20 Inc. and the Chicago Fire Department, researchers have found that more = than 70=20 percent of particulates released during fires are "ultrafine," invisible = to the=20 naked eye but able to be inhaled into the deepest compartments of the = lung.=20

These findings were reported in the August 2010 issue of the = Journal=20 of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. This study was the first = to=20 characterize the size and distribution of particulates, including those = in the=20 ultrafine range, during domestic fires.

For this study, = researchers=20 conducted a series of simulated house and automobile fires to measure = the amount=20 and specific characteristics of breathable particulates released during=20 combustion and, consequently, what firefighters are exposed to during = the course=20 of their typical work environment.

Fire suppression takes place = in two=20 phases. In the first, known as "knockdown," firefighters squelch the = flames with=20 water to avoid fire spread. Workers are required to wear protective = breathing=20 equipment during this time to avoid exposure to smoke and toxic gases = produced=20 from the process. During "overhaul," the second phase, firefighters = enter the=20 structure and work to prevent re-ignition of partially burned material.=20

Researchers found that levels of ultrafine particulates were = highest=20 during overhaul, both in indoor and outdoor structure fires as well as=20 automobile fires.

"Firefighters simply can't avoid inhaling = these=20 ultrafine particles when they are not wearing their protective breathing = apparatus and, unfortunately, they routinely remove it during overhaul," = explains Stuart Baxter, PhD, a collaborator in the study and UC = professor of=20 environmental health.

"Standard issue firefighting equipment = weighs=20 about 60 pounds, and under the exertion of firefighting the standard air = tank=20 only lasts about 20 minutes, so as soon as they determine the situation = is safe=20 - typically during overhaul - firefighters shed the protective gear," he = adds.=20 "Much of this ultrafine exposure could be avoided through equipment = improvements=20 and more rigid safety protocols for fire suppression - including = additional=20 workers who could be rotated in to reduce the physical and emotional = burden of=20 the job."

Notes:
Collaborators in the study include Clara Sue = Ross,=20 MD, JD, Thomas Fabian, PhD, Jacob Borgerson, Jamila Shawon, Pravinray = Gandhi,=20 PhD, James Dalton and James Lockey, MD.
Funding for the study came = from the=20 Department of Homeland Security and AFG Fire Prevention and Safety = Grants=20 Program. Funders had no involvement in study design, data = collection/analysis,=20 writing of the paper or decision to seek publication.
Lockey has = served as a=20 paid witness, independent medical examiner or both in workers' = compensation and=20 disability cases, including cases involving firefighters. There is no = other=20 potential conflict of interest relevant to this research. =

Source:=20
Amanda Harper
University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center

Please rate this=20 article:
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Note: Any medical information published on this = website is=20 not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should = not take=20 any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more=20 information, please read our terms and conditions.

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