While the short- and long-term effects of chronic exposure by
firefighters to toxic chemicals have been documented, the effects
of repeated low-level exposures to many chemicals (and the
interactions between those chemicals) over the duration of
employment is unknown.
Many situations faced by Western Australian and Australian fire
services personnel are unique due to local ecology, demography and
sociology. As such, best practice cannot always be established by
overseas precedents. This study will provide the targeted local
research required to understand the cardio-respiratory effects of
inhalation of combustion products.
I will be looking at the health of all FESA career firefighters
employed between the years of 1975 and 1995. I will estimate each
person’s smoke exposure based on employment at different fire
stations and the types of fires attended by each fire station over
time. This exposure will then be merged with health outcomes data
from the WA Department of Health to determine the health risks
associated with firefighting.
It is hoped that the results of this study will provide a better
understanding of the health effects of smoke inhalation in
firefighters and therefore enable us to make recommendations on how
to improve the safety, health and well-being of firefighters.
