Self-reported short- and long-term respiratory effects among PVC-exposed firefighters

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Environmental Research; (USA)

OSTI ID:5021956

Markowitz, J S ^[1]

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1. Columbia Univ., NY (USA)

Firefighters exposed to burning polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were studied to assess respiratory effects at 5-6 wk post-incident and again 22 mo following the fire. Exposed subjects reported significantly more frequent and severe respiratory symptoms at both time points than did firefighter controls. In longitudinal analyses, a number of symptoms persisted over time, and acute symptom scores were significantly correlated with chronic scores. At Time 2, approximately 18% of exposed firefighters, compared with none of the controls, reported that since the time of the PVC exposure, a physician had told them that they had either asthma and/or bronchitis.

• OSTI ID: 5021956
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (USA), Vol. 47:1; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FIRE FIGHTING
HEALTH HAZARDS
PVC
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
INJURIES
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
SYMPTOMS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYMERS
POLYVINYLS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology