Evaluation of Interventions to Reduce Firefighter Exposures.
J Occup Environ Med
; 62(4): 279-288, 2020 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31977921
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Evaluate the effectiveness of firefighter exposure reduction interventions.METHODS:
Fireground interventions included use of self-contained breathing apparatus by engineers, entry team wash down, contaminated equipment isolation, and personnel showering and washing of gear upon return to station. Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (PAH-OHs) were measured after structural fire responses before and after intervention implementation. Separately, infrared sauna use following live-fire training was compared to standard postfire care in a randomized trial.RESULTS:
The fireground interventions significantly reduced mean total urinary postfire PAH-OHs in engineers (-40.4%, 95%CI -63.9%, -2.3%) and firefighters (-36.2%, 95%CI -56.7%, -6.0%) but not captains (-11.3% 95%CI -39.4%, 29.9%). Sauna treatment non-significantly reduced total mean PAH-OHs by -43.5% (95%CI -68.8%, 2.2%).CONCLUSIONS:
The selected fireground interventions reduced urinary PAH-OHs in engineers and firefighters. Further evaluation of infrared sauna treatment is needed.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Occupational Exposure
/
Firefighters
/
Air Pollutants, Occupational
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Occup Environ Med
Journal subject:
MEDICINA OCUPACIONAL
/
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Argentina