TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Monitoring of firefighters exposure to smoke during fire experiments in Portugal
JO  - Environment international
A1  - Miranda, Ana Isabel
A1  - Martins, Vera
A1  - Cascão, Pedro
A1  - Amorim, Jorge Humberto
A1  - Valente, Joana
A1  - Tavares, Richard
A1  - Borrego, Carlos
A1  - Tchepel, Oxana
A1  - Ferreira, Antonio Jorge
A1  - Cordeiro, Carlos Robalo
A1  - Viegas, Domingos Xavier
A1  - Ribeiro, Luis Mario
A1  - Pita, Luis Paulo
SP  - 736
EP  - 745
VL  - 36
IS  - 7
N2  - Forest fires represent a serious threat to public security in Europe due to the large burned area. Moreover, smoke pollution due to forest fire events is an important public health issue for the communities directly affected, and particularly for the personnel involved in firefighting operations. Aiming to contribute to the scientific knowledge concerning firefighters exposure to forest fires smoke, data of individual exposure to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter were obtained during experimental field fires for a group of 10 firefighters equipped with portable "in continuum" measuring devices. Measured values are very high exceeding the Occupational Exposure Standard limits, in particular for peak limit thresholds. These are the first measurements and analysis of firefighter's individual exposure to toxic gases and particles in fire smoke experiments in Europe. However, they already indicate that urgent measures to avoid these levels of exposure are needed.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0160-4120
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2010.05.009
ID  - ref1
ER  -