@article{ref1,
title="Evaluation of interventions to reduce firefighter exposures",
journal="Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine",
year="2020",
author="Burgess, Jefferey L. and Hoppe-Jones, Christiane and Griffin, Stephanie C. and Zhou, Jin J. and Gulotta, John J. and Wallentine, Darin D. and Moore, Paul K. and Valliere, Eric A. and Weller, Sasha R. and Beitel, Shawn C. and Flahr, Leanne M. and Littau, Sally R. and Dearmon-Moore, Devi and Zhai, Jing and Jung, Alesia M. and Garavito, Fernanda and Snyder, Shane A.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effectiveness of firefighter exposure reduction interventions. <br><br>METHODS: Fireground interventions included use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) 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 post-fire care in a randomized trial. <br><br>RESULTS: The fireground interventions significantly reduced mean total urinary post-fire 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%). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The selected fireground interventions reduced urinary PAH-OHs in engineers and firefighters. Further evaluation of infrared sauna treatment is needed.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1076-2752",
doi="10.1097/JOM.0000000000001815",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001815"
}