Toxic Gases from Fires

Abstract

The major lethal factors in uncontrolled fires are toxic gases, heat, and oxygen deficiency. The predominant toxic gas is carbon monoxide, which is readily generated from the combusion of wood and other cellulosic materials. Increasing use of a variety of synthetic polymers has stimulated interest in screening tests to evaluated the toxicity of polymeric materials when thermally decomposed. As yet, this country lacks a standardized fire toxicity test protocol.

Lesão por inalação de fumaça

“…As examples of products resulting from oxidation, we can cite carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), as well as elemental carbon. The predominance of either process, as well as the temperature, ventilation, and type of material burned in the environment, may lead to the production of a large quantity of smoke elements, each with its peculiar level of toxicity and mechanism of injury (4,5) . Smoke products can be divided into two groups: particulate matter and gases.…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-96-0171-2692, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Washington, DC.

“…7 Many variables control the resulting byproducts of combustion, the most important being the composition of the burning material. 8,9 Other key factors include the temperature at which pyrolysis or combustion occurs, the concentration of oxygen present, and the efficiency of combustion. 8,9 Environmental sampling was conducted for several of the possible contaminants present at the fire scene and focused on the contaminants most likely present during the investigation phase of a fire scene.…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-91-0190-2491, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Jersey City, New Jersey.

“…9 Many variables control the resulting byproducts of combustion, the most important being the composition of the burning material. 27,28 Other key factors include the temperature at which pyrolysis or combustion occurs, the concentration of oxygen present, and the efficiency of combustion. 27,28 At the New Jersey Turnpike Dump #5 fire, the burning materials consisted primarily of tires, construction debris, and drums containing unknown materials.…”