- Email: [email protected]
Effect of protective filters on fire fighter respiratory health during simulated bushfire smoke exposure in Western Australia
Forest Ecology and Management 234S (2006) S143
Abstract
Effect of protective filters on fire fighter respiratory health during simulated bushfire smoke exposure in Western Australia Annemarie J.B.M. De Vos, Angus Cook School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, WA, Australia
Keywords: Bushfire smoke; Fire fighters; Occupational exposure; Respiratory health
Background and objective: Bushfire fighters are potentially subject to risk from bushfire smoke. Although many different masks and filters are available for use during fire fighting activities, it is not clear which is the most effective from a health and safety perspective. This study investigated the effect of protective filters on the respiratory health of Western Australian fire fighters under controlled simulated conditions. Methods: Sixty-four healthy urban career fire fighters were subjected to controlled simulated bushfire smoke in an open smoke chamber for 15 min. During the exposure trials, the fire fighters were allocated one of the three types of protective filters using a double-blind randomised procedure. The filters assessed were (a) a particulate (P) filter, (b) a particulate/organic vapour (P/OV) filter and (c) a particulate/organic vapour formaldehyde (P/OV/F) filter. Spirometry, oximetry and self-reported symptom data were collected at baseline and at two time intervals after the smoke exposure. Personal air sampling inside the fire fighters’ masks completed the assessment of the protective filters. Results: A significantly higher number of participants assigned to the P and the P/OV filter group reported an increase
DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.190 E-mail addresses: [email protected] (A.J.B.M. De Vos), [email protected] (A. Cook).
in coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath following smoke exposure compared to the P/OV/F group. Odds ratios showed a statistically significant 12-fold reduction in the number of participants, reporting respiratory symptoms following the smoke exposure, in the P/OV/F filter group vs. the P filter group. Air sampling inside the fire fighters’ masks demonstrated a significantly higher level of formaldehyde and acrolein inside the masks fitted with the P filters compared to the P/OV filter and the P/OV/F filter. Conclusions: Testing the effectiveness of P, P/OV, and P/ OV/F filters under simulated controlled conditions in a smoke chamber has demonstrated that the P/OV/F filter provides statistically significant better protection for the fire fighters’ airways. Further research is needed to determine the breakthrough times of the filters and the efficacy of the filters over longer time periods, and in more realistic situations. It is anticipated however, that these issues will be addressed in the follow-up phase of this study, which will be conducted during prescribed burns in the next spring season.
Abstract
Effect of protective filters on fire fighter respiratory health during simulated bushfire smoke exposure in Western Australia Annemarie J.B.M. De Vos, Angus Cook School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, WA, Australia
Keywords: Bushfire smoke; Fire fighters; Occupational exposure; Respiratory health
Background and objective: Bushfire fighters are potentially subject to risk from bushfire smoke. Although many different masks and filters are available for use during fire fighting activities, it is not clear which is the most effective from a health and safety perspective. This study investigated the effect of protective filters on the respiratory health of Western Australian fire fighters under controlled simulated conditions. Methods: Sixty-four healthy urban career fire fighters were subjected to controlled simulated bushfire smoke in an open smoke chamber for 15 min. During the exposure trials, the fire fighters were allocated one of the three types of protective filters using a double-blind randomised procedure. The filters assessed were (a) a particulate (P) filter, (b) a particulate/organic vapour (P/OV) filter and (c) a particulate/organic vapour formaldehyde (P/OV/F) filter. Spirometry, oximetry and self-reported symptom data were collected at baseline and at two time intervals after the smoke exposure. Personal air sampling inside the fire fighters’ masks completed the assessment of the protective filters. Results: A significantly higher number of participants assigned to the P and the P/OV filter group reported an increase
DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.190 E-mail addresses: [email protected] (A.J.B.M. De Vos), [email protected] (A. Cook).
in coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath following smoke exposure compared to the P/OV/F group. Odds ratios showed a statistically significant 12-fold reduction in the number of participants, reporting respiratory symptoms following the smoke exposure, in the P/OV/F filter group vs. the P filter group. Air sampling inside the fire fighters’ masks demonstrated a significantly higher level of formaldehyde and acrolein inside the masks fitted with the P filters compared to the P/OV filter and the P/OV/F filter. Conclusions: Testing the effectiveness of P, P/OV, and P/ OV/F filters under simulated controlled conditions in a smoke chamber has demonstrated that the P/OV/F filter provides statistically significant better protection for the fire fighters’ airways. Further research is needed to determine the breakthrough times of the filters and the efficacy of the filters over longer time periods, and in more realistic situations. It is anticipated however, that these issues will be addressed in the follow-up phase of this study, which will be conducted during prescribed burns in the next spring season.