Evaluation of Interventions to Reduce Firefighter Exposures

Jefferey L. Burgess; Christiane Hoppe-Jones; Stephanie C. Griffin; Jin J. Zhou; John J. Gulotta; Darin D. Wallentine; Paul K. Moore; Eric A. Valliere; Sasha R. Weller; Shawn C. Beitel; Leanne M. Flahr; Sally R. Littau; Devi Dearmon-Moore; Jing Zhai; Alesia M. Jung; Fernanda Garavito; Shane A. Snyder

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000001815

Evaluation of Interventions to Reduce Firefighter Exposures

Jefferey L. Burgess, Christiane Hoppe-Jones, Stephanie C. Griffin, Jin J. Zhou, John J. Gulotta, Darin D. Wallentine, Paul K. Moore, Eric A. Valliere, Sasha R. Weller, Shawn C. Beitel, Leanne M. Flahr, Sally R. Littau, Devi Dearmon-Moore, Jing Zhai, Alesia M. Jung, Fernanda Garavito, Shane A. Snyder

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective:Evaluate the effectiveness of firefighter exposure reduction interventions.Methods:Fireground interventions included use of self-contained breathing apparatus 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 postfire care in a randomized trial.Results:The fireground interventions significantly reduced mean total urinary postfire 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%).Conclusions:The selected fireground interventions reduced urinary PAH-OHs in engineers and firefighters. Further evaluation of infrared sauna treatment is needed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	279-288
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
Volume	62
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001815
State	Published - Apr 1 2020

Keywords

SCBA
exposure reduction
firefighter
intervention
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
sauna
wash down

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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10.1097/JOM.0000000000001815

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Burgess, J. L., Hoppe-Jones, C., Griffin, S. C., Zhou, J. J., Gulotta, J. J., Wallentine, D. D., Moore, P. K., Valliere, E. A., Weller, S. R., Beitel, S. C., Flahr, L. M., Littau, S. R., Dearmon-Moore, D., Zhai, J., Jung, A. M., Garavito, F., & Snyder, S. A. (2020). Evaluation of Interventions to Reduce Firefighter Exposures. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 62(4), 279-288. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001815

Burgess, JL, Hoppe-Jones, C, Griffin, SC, Zhou, JJ, Gulotta, JJ, Wallentine, DD, Moore, PK, Valliere, EA, Weller, SR, Beitel, SC, Flahr, LM, Littau, SR, Dearmon-Moore, D, Zhai, J, Jung, AM, Garavito, F & Snyder, SA 2020, 'Evaluation of Interventions to Reduce Firefighter Exposures', Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 279-288. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001815

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abstract = "Objective:Evaluate the effectiveness of firefighter exposure reduction interventions.Methods:Fireground interventions included use of self-contained breathing apparatus 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 postfire care in a randomized trial.Results:The fireground interventions significantly reduced mean total urinary postfire 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%).Conclusions:The selected fireground interventions reduced urinary PAH-OHs in engineers and firefighters. Further evaluation of infrared sauna treatment is needed.",

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AU - Hoppe-Jones, Christiane

AU - Griffin, Stephanie C.

AU - Zhou, Jin J.

AU - Gulotta, John J.

AU - Wallentine, Darin D.

AU - Moore, Paul K.

AU - Valliere, Eric A.

AU - Weller, Sasha R.

AU - Beitel, Shawn C.

AU - Flahr, Leanne M.

AU - Littau, Sally R.

AU - Dearmon-Moore, Devi

AU - Zhai, Jing

AU - Jung, Alesia M.

AU - Garavito, Fernanda

AU - Snyder, Shane A.

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N2 - Objective:Evaluate the effectiveness of firefighter exposure reduction interventions.Methods:Fireground interventions included use of self-contained breathing apparatus 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 postfire care in a randomized trial.Results:The fireground interventions significantly reduced mean total urinary postfire 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%).Conclusions:The selected fireground interventions reduced urinary PAH-OHs in engineers and firefighters. Further evaluation of infrared sauna treatment is needed.

AB - Objective:Evaluate the effectiveness of firefighter exposure reduction interventions.Methods:Fireground interventions included use of self-contained breathing apparatus 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 postfire care in a randomized trial.Results:The fireground interventions significantly reduced mean total urinary postfire 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%).Conclusions:The selected fireground interventions reduced urinary PAH-OHs in engineers and firefighters. Further evaluation of infrared sauna treatment is needed.

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Evaluation of Interventions to Reduce Firefighter Exposures

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ASJC Scopus subject areas

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