Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 91-312-2185, U.S. Department of theInterior, National Park Service, Gallatin National Forest, Montana

摘要

In response to a request from the U.S. Department of Interior, National ParkService (NPS) an evaluation was undertaken of worker exposure to forest fire smoke at Gallatin National Forest, Montana. Personal breathing zone air samples were collected for carbon-monoxide (630080) (CO), sulfur-dioxide (7446095) (SO2), aldehydes, respirable particulate matter (RPM), and respirable crystalline silica (14808607). The CO exposure ranged up to 17 parts per million (ppm) which was below the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit of 35ppm. SO2 concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 3.0ppm; three samples were above the recommended limit of 2ppm. Aldehyde concentrations were an order of magnitude or more below the evaluation criteria. Of the 14 samples analyzed for silica, one sample was above the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit for quartz of 0.1mg/cu m. The authors conclude that an exposure hazard does exist for SO2. Suggestions were made for the collecting of data during the current fire fighting season.