Air contaminants encountered by firefighters.

The concentrations of eight air contaminants suspected of causing acute and chronic health problems for firefighters were measured in over 200 fires in the City of Boston using a personal air sampler. Threatening concentrations of both carbon monoxide and acrolein were found in a small proportion of the fires. Less hazardous levels of hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide were also noted. Benzene was found in most fires, but at concentrations well below those expected to cause acute injury. The air sampling data have application in treatment of smoke inhalation victims, development of firefighting strategies and selection of respiratory protection devices.