Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HETA-82-115-1101, Fire Department, Poughkeepsie, New York

摘要

In January 1982, NIOSH received a request for a Health Hazard Evaluation concerning possible health effects to fire fighters who participated in rescue and fire suppression activities following an explosion and chemical fire at the Bern Color Company, Poughkeepsie, New York. The request also asked for advice concerning disposition of the fire fighters' protective clothing which was contaminated by chemicals during the fire. The fire was exceptionally smoky and consumed large amounts of chemicals which had been stored on site. Based on a review of the results of the medical tests performed on the fire fighters, NIOSH concluded that there were no apparent systemic health effects due to exposure to chemicals at the fire. NIOSH believes that decontaminating the fire fighters' uniforms is impractical with existing technology and recommends that they be disposed of properly.