As bushfires burn throughout Australia virtually all year round,
the role of the firefighter remains a difficult one. With an ever
expanding rural-urban interface, firefighters are often involved in
protecting property and apart from the intense heat and physical
demands, firefighters may also be exposed to bushfire smoke that
contains a cocktail of volatile compounds.
Research by Annemarie De Vos from the Bushfire Cooperative
Research Centre has found that the types of face masks available
for those at the fire-front vary greatly in their ability to shield
the firefighter from particulate matter and the gases present in
bushfire smoke.
The research, conducted with the Fire and Emergency Services
Authority (FESA) of Western Australia, assessed the effectiveness
of a range of protective respiratory filters worn by firefighters
who are required to remain in smoke logged conditions while
protecting properties from fire. This study has resulted in FESA
endorsing the use of a type of filter (a particulate/organic
vapour/formaldehyde filter) for its career firefighters.
Annemarie was selected to present her findings at the Showcasing
Early Career Scientists session of the CRC Association conference
in Perth, May 2007.
There is evidence that the presence of toxic compounds in
bushfire smoke may pose occupational risks for firefighters. In
particular, acute and chronic lung function impairment after
exposure to bushfire smoke has been documented in the United States
and Europe.
This study involved controlled exposure trials in a smoke
chamber for up to 15 minutes, followed by trials in the field
during fuel reduction burns for up to two hours. A total of 131
FESA career firefighters participated in the trials – 37 wore
particulate filters (P2), 50 particulate/organic vapour filters and
44 particulate/organic vapour/formaldehyde filters. Lung function
and respiratory health symptoms were assessed by a questionnaire,
lung function test and oxygen measurements. Personal air sampling
was also conducted inside the masks.
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A mask comparison - the particulate filter
(left) and the particulate/organic vapour/formaldehyde filter.
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Withdrawing from smoke conditions is always the best action but
when firefighters cannot withdraw and need to remain in bushfire
smoke to protect structures Annmarie’s research showed that
the particulate/organic vapour/formaldehyde filter was found to
allow firefighters to work with a higher degree of comfort in smoke
logged conditions.
Further research is now needed to determine the effectiveness of
the filters over longer periods, such as a longer working shift or
even for a full bushfire season. Annemarie’s study is part of
a group of Bushfire CRC projects looking at the overall health and
safety aspects of fighting bushfires.
Annemarie is conducting her Bushfire CRC research at the School
of Population Health at the University of Western Australia.
