Application of Real-time Particle Sensors to Help Mitigate Exposures of Wildland Firefighters.

CHEMICAL detectors; PARTICLES; DETECTION alarms; DETECTORS; WILDFIRE fighters; FOREST fire fighters; SAFETY; FIRE prevention

High particulate exposures have been demonstrated to decrease lung function among firefighters. In this article, the authors demonstrated the feasibility of using small real-time particle sensors to inform wildland firefighters so they may make informed decisions on the use of personal respiratory protection. Using 1 mg/m3 as an indicator point for use of appropriately designed respiratory protection, such sensors could help prevent 16% to 74% of particulate exposure during prescribed burns when firefighters assess exposure as low or medium. Adherence to such a guideline for the use of respiratory protection would involve its deployment during 3% to 22% of individual 8-hour shifts. In addition, data-logging sensors would provide a valuable tool for tracking exposure to particulates among wildland firefighters for occupational health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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