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17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

Mortality among Boston firefighters, 1915--1975.

Although the nature of firefighting involves particular health hazards, previous mortality and morbidity studies of firemen have produced inconsistent evidence for an increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer and accidents. Mortality experience since 1915 has been examined in 5655 Boston firefighters, comprising all male members of the city fire department with three or more years of service. The observed cause of death as stated on the death certificates of 2470 deceased firefighters has been compared with the numbers expected based on rates for the male population of Massachusetts and of the United States of America. Among all firefighters, deaths from all causes were 91% of expected. The standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was markedly reduced (less than 50) for infectious disease, diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, chronic nephritis, blood diseases and suicide. The SMR was 86 for cardiovascular deaths, 83 for neoplastic deaths, and 93 for respiratory deaths. The SMR for accidents was 135 for active firefighters. The results suggest that the survival experience of firefighters is strongly influenced by strict entry selection procedures, ethnic derivation, and sociocultural attributes of membership. While excessive morbidity has been demonstrated in firefighters, there does not appear to be a strong association between occupation and cause-specific mortality.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2025

Glioma mutational signatures associated with haloalkane exposure are enriched in firefighters.

BACKGROUND: Glioma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Modifiable risk factors remain unidentified. New advances in exposure assessment, genomic analyses, and statistical techniques permit more accurate evaluation of glioma risk associated with exogenous occupational or environmental exposures. METHODS: By using whole-exome sequencing data from matched germline and glioma tumor samples, the authors compared tumor mutational signatures for 17 persons with glioma and a documented occupational history of firefighting with those of 18 persons with glioma without an occupational history of firefighting. All 35 individuals were participants in the University of California, San Francisco Adult Glioma Study. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation among firefighters between the median number of sample variants attributable to single-base substitution signature 42, a single-base substitution mutational signature associated with haloalkane exposure (from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutational Signatures in Cancer) and firefighting years (p = .04; R2 = 0.29). Among nonfirefighters, the individuals with the highest number of median variants attributable to single-base substitution signature 42 also had occupations that possibly exposed them to haloalkanes, such as painting and being a mechanic. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the authors identified gliomas that had mutational signatures associated with haloalkane exposure that were enriched in firefighters and other occupations.

Humans↗
PubMed1977

The role of exertion as a determinant of carboxyhemoglobin accumulation in firefighters.

The firefighter's exposure to carbon monoxide represents a relatively contant occupational hazard. Unfortunately, attempts to predict the level of this exposure in work situations have failed to be of practical benefit. This study was designed to examine the several determinants of carbon monoxide uptake by firefighters in a controlled situation. Twenty firefighters were monitored for heart rate and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels during a search-and rescue drill in a smokefilled building. Carbon monoxide levels were maintained at 200 to 1000 ppm. Heart rates increased to 90% of maximum for age within minutes, and COHb levels increased at more than 1% per minute. The use of breathing apparatus provided full protection from uptake of COHb but was associated with significantly increased heart rates. The results show that exertional levels and, therefore, ventilatory rates may be so great during firefighting that even in moderate or low levels of atmospheric carbon monoxide the COHb can rise to dangerous levels within minutes. These findings suggest that no firefighter should be allowed to work in a burning or smoke-filled structure without the protection of breathing apparatus.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Pulmonary function in firefighters: acute changes in ventilatory capacity and their correlates.

A group of 39 firefighters was examined during routine firefighing duty. Following smoke exposure the average decrease in one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0) was 0.05 litre (137 observations). This decline in FEV1.0 was related to the severity of smoke exposure as estimated by the firefighter and to the measured particulate concentration of the smoke to which he was exposed. Decreases in FEV1.0 in excess of 0.10 litre were recorded in 30% of observations. Changes in FEV1.0 resulting from a second exposure to smoke on the same tour of duty were greater when smoke exposure at the previous fire was heavy. The repeated episodes of irritation of the bronchial tree that have been documented in this investigation may explain the origin of the previously observed chronic effect of firefighting on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Effect of firetruck noise on firefighters' hearing.

Noise exposure of Minneapolis city firefighters was measured in 3 categories of fire apparatus. Maximum SPL of 110 db(A) and mean duration of 23 min/day do not exceed OSHA guidelines. The means pure-tone ac HTLs of a Group A of 17 men of 23-28 yrs with 0.75-2 yrs firefighting experience did not differ significantly from those of a comparable group of older men of 30-35 yrs with 8.25-10.9 yrs firefighting experience. Mean HTLs for both groups exceeded those of men of comparable age groups with no noise exposure tested by Corso, but at the lower frequencies only (0.5-4 kc/s), not at the higher (6-8 kc/s). Previous military and concurrent recreational noise exposure may have masked differences between Group A and B.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Minimum protection factors for respiratory protective devices for firefighters.

Carbon monoxide and oxygen concentrations were measured in seventy-two structural fires using a personal air sampler carried by working firefighters. In a total sampling time of 1329 minutes the carbon monoxide concentration exceeded 500 ppm approximately 29 percent of the time. The maximum carbon monoxide concentration was 27,000 ppm and in 10 percent of the fires, the maximum concentration exceeded 5500 ppm. Only six runs indicated oxygen concentrations less than 18 percent. On the basis of these exposure data, a minimum protection factor of 100 is proposed for breathing apparatus for structural firefighting.

Air↗
PubMed1979

Strength and fitness and subsequent back injuries in firefighters.

This prospective investigation was done to evaluate five strength and fitness measurements and the subsequent occurrence of back injuries in 1652 firefighters for the years 1971 to 1974. The prospective measurements included flexibility, isometric lifting strength, bicycle ergometer exercise measurements of two-minute recovery heart rate, diastolic blood pressure at a heart rate of 160 beats per minute and watts of effort required to sustain heart rate at 160. Three fitness and conditioning groups were established by multivariate ranking and regression techniques (259 high, 266 low, and 1127 middle) and the subsequent back injuries were tabulated for the three groups. The results showed a graded and statistically significant protective effect for added levels of fitness and conditioning (least fit, 7.1% injured; middle fit, 3.2% jured; and most fit, 0.8% injured). It was concluded that physical fitness and conditioning of firefighters are preventive of back injuries and that further investigations are warranted to study other injuries and physical fitness in this physically active occupational group.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Exposure of firefighters to toxic air contaminants.

A personal sampling apparatus for firefighters was developed to sample the fire atmosphere for CO, CO2, O2, NO2, HCI, HCN and pariculate content. Two fire companies made ninety successful sample runs during structural fires. CO presented a potential acute hazard and particulate concentrations were high. HCN was detected at low levels in half the samples. HCI was detected in only eight samples but on two occasions exceeded 100 ppm. CO2 and NO2 levels and O2 depression do not appear to represent significant hazards.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1978

Safety limits for a firefighter proximity suit.

A standard one-piece firefighter proximity suit (jumpsuit style) was tested for heat accumulation and hood compartment ventilation. Large increases in temperature of the skin and hood compartmental air were recorded. Oxygen and carbon dioxide were monitored and hypoxic conditions found. Using the O2 and CO2 data, mathematical regression analyses were performed to predict the time exposures allowed for firemen entering various ambient atmospheric conditions. The short permissible exposure periods predicted for the proximity suit suggests limited usefulness and the need for immediate improvements in the design of the suit.

Adult↗
PubMed2026

Exploring the experiences, views, and needs of family members of emergency response workers: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.

Background: Emergency responders, including firefighters, police officers, and paramedics, face workplace challenges that may harm their well-being. They typically rely on family members for support, which may have damaging effects on the family system. While the experiences of emergency responders are well established, their families' subsequent struggles are less well explored.Objective: This review explores the experiences, views, and needs of family members, through determining the mental health and well-being issues that they face, and establishing ways in which family members could be supported.Method: We searched five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus, and ProQuest) for qualitative papers exploring experiences of family members of emergency responders. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, and data were meta-synthesized using thematic analysis.Results: Six themes and two subthemes were identified from the meta-synthesis. 'Experiences of emotional strain' reflected worry over safety and coping with volatile moods. 'Increased responsibilities' involved safeguarding emergency responders' well-being and managing household duties, at the expense of family members' own needs. Families felt 'devoted yet invisible', with sacrifices overlooked by both emergency responders and society. 'Impacts on the family dynamic' included relational detachment and frustration. 'Support for emergency responder families' from fellow emergency responder families was valued, but organizational support was limited. 'Media portrayal and societal perceptions' varied, as police families faced hostility, while firefighter and paramedic families garnered respect, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusions: This review highlights that family members play a central role in maintaining the well-being of emergency responders, yet simultaneously face hardships associated with their family member's work and feel undervalued despite their support. This lack of recognition extends to limited professional support. There is a critical need for targeted mental health interventions to support family members, alongside family support measures from emergency responder organizations to assist with the practical difficulties faced by families.

Humans↗
PubMed1979

Respirator use and protection from exposure to carbon monoxide.

Investigations of the protective effect afforded by respirators in Baltimore firefighters are presented. The data indicates that the continuous use of respirators offers significant protection from exposure to carbon monoxide but that this protection is not absolute. A surprising finding is that the intermittent use of the face mask offers as little protection to the men as does non-use. These findings emphasize the difficulties in relying upon respiratory personal protective equipment for protection from exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Lung function in fire fighters, II: a five year follow-up fo retirees.

In a study of the chronic effects of fire fighting on lung function, 1,768 employees from the Boston Fire Department were examined in 1970. From this cohort, 109 firefighters who retired in the period 1970 to 1975 have been restudied with questionnaire and ventilatory function tests. The observed vulues for pulmonary function when expressed as a per cent of predicted are consistently slightly below 100 per cent. The expected effect of cigarett smoking on lung function was demonstrated. The results suggest thetirement) are important in reducing the effect of fire fighting on subjects who may be adversely affected by the inhalation of combustion products.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Exercise prescription: a clinical trial.

To assess the effectiveness of physician prescribed exercise, health education, and patient self-monitoring, 124 firefighters were medically screened and randomly allocated to a control and two treatment groups. Physiologic and reporting methods were employed to assess adherence to regular exercise at three months and six months after the initial exercise prescription. Addition of a health education program significantly improved compliance over that achieved by a physician consultation. Self-monitoring did not produce a further increase in compliance. Improvement in the treatment groups was limited to three months after prescription; at six months, the treatment and control populations had similar exercise patterns.

Adult↗