Respiratory tract deposition efficiencies: evaluation of effects from smoke released in the Cerro Grande forest fire.
J Aerosol Med
; 15(4): 387-99, 2002.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12581505
ABSTRACT
Forest-fire smoke inhaled by humans can cause various health effects. This smoke contains toxic chemicals and naturally occurring radionuclides. In northern New Mexico, a large wildfire occurred in May 2000. Known as the Cerro Grande Fire, it devastated the town of Los Alamos and damaged Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Residents were concerned about the possible dissemination of radionuclides from LANL via smoke from the fire. To evaluate potential health effects of inhaling radionuclides contained in the smoke from the Cerro Grande Fire, it was first necessary to evaluate how much smoke would deposit in the human respiratory tract. The purpose of this study was to evaluate respiratory-tract deposition efficiencies of airborne forest-fire smoke for persons of different ages exposed while inside their homes. Potential non-radiological health effects of a forest fire are reviewed. The deposition efficiencies presented can be used to evaluate in-home smoke deposition in the respiratory tract and expected radionuclide intake related to forest fires. The impact of smoke exposure on firemen fighting a forest fire is quantitatively discussed and compared. They primarily inhaled forest-fire smoke while outdoors where the smoke concentration was much higher than inside. Radionuclides released at the LANL site via the Cerro Grande Fire were restricted to naturally occurring radionuclides from burning trees and vegetation. Radiation doses from inhaled airborne radionuclides to individuals inside and outside the Los Alamos area were likely very small.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Radioisótopos
/
Fumaça
/
Poluentes Radioativos do Ar
/
Incêndios
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Aerosol Med
Assunto da revista:
TERAPIA POR MEDICAMENTOS
Ano de publicação:
2002
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Áustria