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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): N. Rothman; D. P. Ford; M. E. Baser; John A. Hansen; T. O'Toole; M. S. Tockman; P. T. Strickland
Publication Date: 1991

We studied cross-seasonal changes in pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms in 52 wildland firefighters in Northern California. The mean cross-seasonal change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEVI) was-1.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] -O.5, -2.0%) with a corresponding mean change in forced expiratory volume (FVC) of-O.3% (95% CI 0.4%, -1.O%). Decreases in FEVI and FVC were most strongly associated with hours of recent fire-fighting activity (P = .002 and .01, respectively). When the study group was divided into three categories based on recent fire-fighting activity, firefighters in the high activity category (mean +- SE, 73 +- 7 hours of fire-fighting in previous week) had a -2.9% (130 mL) change in FEVI and a -1.9%(102 mL) change in forced vital capacity (FVC). There was a signifcant cross-seasonal increase in most respiratory symptoms evaluated. Several symptoms (eye irritation, nose irritation, and wheezing) were associated with recent fire-fighting. These findings suggest that wildland firefighters experience a small cross-seasonal decline in pulmonary function and an increase in several respiratory symptoms. Research is under way to identify the fire conditions and specific components of exposure that produce pulmonary irritants, and to examine the potential reversibility of acute pulmonary change.

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Citation: Rothman, N., D. P. Ford, M. E. Baser, J. A. Hansen, T. O'Toole, M. S. Tockman, and P. T. Strickland. 1991. Pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms in wildland firefighters. Journal of Occupational Medicine, v. 33, no. 11, p. 1163-1167.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Keywords:
  • air quality
  • backfires
  • CO - carbon monoxide
  • combustion
  • dust
  • fire equipment
  • fire intensity
  • fire management
  • fire suppression
  • fuel types
  • gases
  • national forests
  • northern California
  • particulates
  • smoke effects
  • smoke management
  • topography
  • wilderness areas
  • wilderness fire management
  • wildfires
Tall Timbers Record Number: 9089Location Status: In-fileCall Number: Fire FileAbstract Status: Fair use, Okay, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 34814

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.