Analysis of the impact of harmful factors in the workplace on functioning of the respiratory system of firefighters

Abstract

Introduction and objective. Firefighters are considered a healthy and fit group of individuals, well-prepared for taking action in disaster situations. While working, they suffer from exposure to certain toxic agents, especially combustion products generated when a fire takes place. Among them, the most frequent and the most toxic are: carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and those resulting from PVC combustion -hydrochloride, phosgene and chloride. Additionally, fireextinguisher powder can be inhaled and lead to certain lesion in the airways. The aim of study was to ascertain the influence of toxic agents present at the scene of fire on the lung tissue of firefighters, and also to study this on an animal model. Materials and methods. The study group consisted of firefighters who had a minimum of 10 years service. After completing a questionnaire, their clinical status was ascertained based on a general examination, laboratory tests and lung function tests. Results. Questionnaire analysis showed a high percentage of pathological symptoms in the studied group. The incidence of the symptoms correlated with the duration of occupational exposure to toxic agents. Among other results, obstruction of flow in medium airways in about 30% of the studied individuals represented the most important finding. Experimental tests were next performed on male Wistar rats, aged 3 months. They were insufflated with the solution of powdered fire-extinguisher, after which morphology specimens of lung tissue were studied. Evidence for disseminated fibrosis was obtained, which supported the previous clinical findings in the firefighters. Conclusion. The above shows correlation between occupational exposure and respiratory system involvement in firefighters. This justifies covering the group of firefighters with special medical care focused on prophilaxis, early detection and therapy of pulmonary diseases.

Risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a large historical cohort of Danish firefighters

“…Moreover, dry chemical fire extinguisher powder may enter the respiratory system, causing irritation 4. Even though modern self-contained breathing apparatuses provide efficient protection against respiratory hazardous chemicals in firefighting, usage of them may together with physical demands and heat provoke bronchoconstriction in subjects with respiratory susceptibilities relating to asthma 5–7.…”

Using elemental analyses and multivariate statistics to identify the off-site dispersion from informal e-waste processing

“…The burning took place at ground level and there was no significant rise in the smoke plume (Figure 14). The use of the PU foam as a fuel and combustion of PVC may give rise to a wide range of nitrogen and chlorinecontaining inorganic and organic compounds 23,24 . Accra is a busy city with much commerce taking place on the streets.…”

Post-traumatic stress disorder in disaster workers and emergency personnel

“…Efforts directed towards avoiding actions, places or people evoking memories about the traumatic incident. An inability to remember an important element of the trauma [10].…”

“…Dissociation and escape mechanisms, which are specific ways of coping with stress, performing a protective function after the trauma, are very frequent reactions to the acute distress phase. Debriefing eliminates these reactions, which may in turn trigger an overwhelming fear which hinders habituation [7][8][9][10][11][18][19][20][21].…”