Smoke and Fire Research:

Effects on Firefighters
By Nate Torgerson
Human Anatomy, Period 5
Carbon Monoxide
According to Article #1, carbon
monoxide is mainly a risk to people
working around the wildfires, such
as firefighters
Constant exposure to inhalation of
carbon monoxide can lead to
carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning causes
headaches, dizziness, weakness,
upset stomach, vomiting, chest Link to Picture
pain, and confusion (Article #4)
Heart Disease
Heart attacks account for 45% of all
work-related deaths among
firefighters
Heart attacks may be caused by
heavy work near hot fires, exposure
to carbon monoxide, and other
stresses associated with the job

Link to Picture
Cancer
Firefighters come into contact with
cancer-causing materials on a
regular basis when fighting fires
Structure fires are especially
dangerous because of the
multitude of chemicals released
into the air from different burning
materials in the structure, which are
Link to Picture
known to greatly increase chances
of cancer
Firefighters are at a higher risk of
getting cancers of the colon, brain,
Chronic Respiratory Disease
Firefighters are exposed to a wide
variety of respiratory risks that can
result in permanent lung damage
From constant exposure to airborne
chemicals released from burning
materials

Link to Picture
Hepatitis B and C
Firefighters are often also first
responders to medical emergencies
Firefighters can come into contact
with blood that is possibly
contaminated with hepatitis B or C

Link to Picture
Work Cited
Article #1: Public Health Division. Wildfire smoke and your health. Oregon State Employee Information Center, Oregon
Health Authority, digital.osl.state.or.us/islandora/object/osl:29194.

Article #2 (used for slides 2-6): International Association of Fire Fighters. Campaign For A Smoke Free Union: Why Quit.
Health Risks To Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, www.iaff.org/smokefree/specialrisks.asp.

Article #3: Regional Hazardous Materials Team HM09-Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. Study on chemicals found in the
overhaul phase of structure fires using advanced portable air monitoring available for chemical speciation. Oregon State
Employee Information Center, 2011, digital.osl.state.or.us/islandora/object/osl:15485.

Article #4: National Center for Environmental Health. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Sept. 2017, www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm.