Review article
Cardiotoxicity of fire gases
S. Kovač
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
S. Duraković
; Klinika za unutrašnje bolesti Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Jugoslavenska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti, Zagreb, Hrvatska
T. Beritić
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Direct and indirect causes of myocardial hypoxia in fires are described. Among the former are the defects in oxygen supply and access i.e. hypoxia in the fire atmosphere and carboxyhaemoglobinaemia, while among the latter are the defects in oxygen disposal and use due to heavy physical and psychophysical efforts, the presence of carboxymyoglobin in the heart muscle and the inhibition of cytochrome oxydase by cyanides. As an additional hazard to the heart muscle chlorinated hydrocarbons (fire extinguishers) or their products (phosgene) should also be considered. The cardiotoxicity of carbon monoxide is presented in detail with special regard to the Haldane effect and repeated exposures (firemen, smokers, drivers of motor vehicles in dense traffic). A possible thrombocyte aggregation effect of carbon monoxide as well as its possible role in the long-term development of atherosclerosis are also dealt with. Because of the frequency of fires involving nitrogen-containing polymers such as polyurethanes, polyacrilonitriles and polyarnides hydrogen cyanide may be produced and its toxic cardiac action should be taken into consideration. The cardiotoxicrty of halogenated hydrocarbons investigated earlier, is outlined is being .important for firemen using halones extinguishers. The appearance of tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) in incineration of garbage is also mentioned.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
153308
URI
Publication date:
8.10.1987.
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