By Bina Patel
The current wildfire situation underway in the Pacific Northwest and California has and continues to be devastating, burning over 3.2 million acres of land (an area almost the size of the state of Connecticut) in California alone. These fires have claimed not only acreage but also the homes of numerous families and businesses that once sat upon those acres. The resulting hazy orange glow that has loomed over the West Coast for these past few weeks has led to speculation and concern about the long-term effects of structure fires on human health.
A structure fire is a fire involving the structural components of various types of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Every structure fire is unique based on the types and quantities of materials that combust, chemical reactions, heat, time, and a variety of other factors. Common materials, such as plastics, fabrics, fire retardants (perfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]), electronics, pesticides, chemical solvents and fluids, and asbestos-containing materials, when burned, can produce numerous toxins that can then be released into the air, surface soil, and surface water. Following structure fires, cleanup and restoration contractors onsite can be exposed to high concentrations of these toxins through various routes of exposures, including inhalation, ingestion, and/or dermal contact (contact with the skin). The damage that occurs following exposure may occur immediately or can take up to years to notice.
To prevent short- and long-term health effects, appropriate health, safety, and sampling protocols should be developed and implemented during activities that may involve the risk of exposure to toxins. A few considerations when dealing with areas affected by the fire include:
- Proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including any respiratory protection, should always be determined prior to entry into any affected areas and worn during all activities conducted.
- Health hazards of potential toxins should be made readily available. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have established occupational exposure levels that can be referenced and adhered to. Exposure levels should be carefully monitored during any activities.
- Type and quantities of potential toxins should be determined through air and surface sampling programs using efficiencies such as composite sampling, whereby individual discrete samples are combined into one sample, and geographic information system (GIS) technology to help create site maps with accurate sample location points. Knowledge of accurate sample locations is important in identifying and delineating areas of elevated concentrations of toxins and is of great assistance when site features become absent or change over time.
- The use of drone technology can be incorporated to assist in identifying areas where sampling should be concentrated and scout for potential physical hazards prior to advancing into the affected area.
The reality is that fires are becoming increasingly more frequent. With increasing frequency, it is important to understand the resulting hazards on human health and work to establish protocols and procedures to ensure health and safety.
Helpful Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/default.html
https://www.osha.gov/
https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Disaster/Wildfires/