Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 85-274-1879, evaluation of zinc chloride smoke-generating devices, International Association of Fire Fighters, Washington, DC
An assessment was made of hazards to fire fighters of using different zinc-chloride smoke generating devices, manufactured by the Superior Signal Company, Inc., New Jersey. used in fire-fighter-training exercises, zinc compounds, hydrochloric acid and over 50 chlorinated hydrocarbons were detected in smoke clouds. The concentration of hydrochloric acid ranged as high as 420 mg/m/sup 3/. Zinc chloride concentrations ranged from 11 to 498 mg/m/sup 3/. A telephone survey was conducted of 62 different fire fighting training organizations around the United States to obtain information they might have on use of similar devices. A literature search revealed that there had been severe adverse health effects, including death, resulting from exposure to a dense smoke cloud from a zinc-chloride smoke-generating device. Individuals who were adversely affected were not wearing respiratory protective gear or had malfunctioning gear. Symptoms of exposure included sore throat, difficulty breathing, joint pain, chills and fever, headache, and generalized fatigue. The authors conclude that no smoke-generating device should be considered safe and nontoxic, and that measures should be taken to reduce exposures to smoke clouds from such devices. Alternative methods to distort vision in fire-fighting training exercises should be considered.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6741586
- Report Number(s):
- PB-88-236948/XAB; HETA-85-274-1879
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
FIRE FIGHTING
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ZINC CHLORIDES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
SMOKES
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
TOXICITY
AEROSOLS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
RESIDUES
SOLS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC HALIDES
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health