@article {BF-4326,
	title = {Bushfires extending into the rural/urban interface - Final report for the operational readiness of rural firefighters (air toxins) project},
	year = {2014},
	month = {02/2014},
	abstract = {Bushfires extending into the rural urban interface (RUI) will release a variety of pollutants into the atmosphere, some of which could potentially harm fire and emergency service workers and residents in the vicinity of the fire. At present, extensive research on exposures to air toxics has been conducted at bushfires and prescribed burns within Australia.  Exposure studies have also focused on toxicity of fire effluents in the context of structural fires. However the findings cannot be easily extrapolated to the rural-urban context. 
Exposures at fires in the RUI differ due to the presence of a more complex mixture of fuels, more complex fire behaviour and smoke plume dispersion and different firefighting tactics including minimal respiratory protection and working under extreme weather conditions. These aspects add complexity to predicting firefighters{\textquoteright} exposures to toxic chemicals and make it difficult to extrapolate from existing research findings on exposures at bushfires, prescribed burns and structural fires.
Research has also been conducted on emissions from a range of burning materials under well-controlled conditions. While these studies provide important information on types of air pollutants released during combustion of materials, the data are presented as emission yields and are not necessarily representative of personal exposures.
Currently, fire and land management agencies do not have scientific evidence to quantify the exposure to air toxics faced by workers at the RUI. There is a need to better understand the environment of the interface to assess exposure risks to firefighters, emergency service workers and residents during and after fires.
The objective of the research project is to improve our understanding of potentially toxic emissions and their exposure concentrations at the RUI by creating a scenario-based exposure assessment that will define exposure risks to firefighters. The emphasis is on inhalation exposures resulting from burning structures at the RUI at varying distances from the emission source and the smoke plume. 
},
	author = {Reisen, Fabienne and Borgas, Michael}
}
@article {2041,
	title = {Exposure to bushfire smoke during prescribed burns and wildfires: Firefighters{\textquoteright} exposure risks and options},
	journal = {Environment International},
	year = {2010},
	month = {Oct-10},
	abstract = {Firefighters are exposed to known health-damaging air pollutants present in bushfire smoke and poorly managed exposure can result in serious health issues. A better understanding of exposure levels and the major factors influencing exposures is crucial for the development of mitigation strategies to minimise exposure risks and adverse health impacts.
This study monitored air toxics within the breathing zone of firefighters at prescribed burns and at wildfires in Australia. The results showed that exposure levels were highly variable, with higher exposures (sometimes exceeding occupational exposure standards) associated with particular work tasks (such as patrol and suppression) and with certain burn conditions. The majority of firefighter{\textquoteright}s exposures were at low and moderate levels (~ 60\%), however considerable attention should be given to the high (~ 30\%) and very high (6\%) exposure risk situations for which acute and chronic health risks are very likely and for which control strategies should be developed and implemented to minimise health risks.
},
	issn = {1604120},
	doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2010.09.005},
	author = {Reisen, Fabienne and Hansen, Dane and Meyer, C.P. (Mick)}
}
@article {BF-2414,
	title = {Australian firefighters{\textquoteright} exposure to air toxics during bushfire burns of autumn 2005 and 2006},
	journal = {Environment International},
	volume = {35},
	year = {2009},
	month = {02/2009},
	pages = {342 - 352},
	abstract = {Bushfire fighting is a hazardous occupation and control strategies are generally in place to minimize the hazards. However, little is known regarding firefighters{\textquoteright} exposure to bushfire smoke, which is a complex mixture of toxic gases and particles. In Australia, during the prescribed burning season, firefighters are likely to be exposed on a regular basis to bushfire smoke, but whether these exposures affect health has yet to be determined. There are a number of factors that govern whether exposure to smoke will result in short-term and/or long-term health problems, including the concentrations of air pollutants within the breathing zone of the firefighter, the exposure duration, and health susceptibility of the individual, especially for pre-existing lung or heart disease.

This paper presents measurements of firefighters{\textquoteright} personal exposure to bushfire smoke, the first step within a risk management framework. It provides crucial information on the magnitude, extent and frequency of personal exposure to bushfire smoke for a range of typical scenarios. It is found that the primary air toxics of concern are carbon monoxide (CO), respirable particles and formaldehyde. Also, work activity is a major factor influencing exposure with exposure standards (both average and short-term limits) likely to be exceeded for activities such as suppression of spot fires, holding the fireline, and patrolling at the edge of a burn area in the urban{\textendash}rural interface.},
	doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2008.08.011},
	author = {Reisen, Fabienne and Brown, SK}
}
@article {BF-2402,
	title = {Respiratory Irritants in Australian Bushfire Smoke: Air Toxics Sampling in a Smoke Chamber and During Prescribed Burns},
	journal = {Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology},
	volume = {56},
	year = {2009},
	month = {4/2009},
	pages = {380 - 388},
	abstract = {Abstract Bushfire smoke contains an array of organic
and inorganic compounds, including respirable and inspirable
particles, aldehydes, and carbon monoxide. These
compounds have been found to be a health hazard for
firefighters in the United States. Despite the high frequency
of bushfires in Australia, analyses of bushfire smoke
components are scarce. As part of an occupational health
study investigating the respiratory health effects of bushfire
smoke in firefighters, air toxics sampling was undertaken in
a smoke chamber and during prescribed burns. Levels of
formaldehyde and acrolein were demonstrated at respectively
60\% and 80\% of the Short Term Exposure Limit in
the smoke chamber. Carbon monoxide levels exceeded the
peak limit of 400 ppm significantly. Although concentrations
were lower during the prescribed burns, the study
shows that Australian bushfire smoke contains air toxics of
concern and provides justification for further research into
the levels of air toxics measured},
	doi = {10.1007/s00244-008-9209-3},
	author = {De Vos, Annemarie J.B.M. and Reisen, Fabienne and Cook, Angus and Devine, Brian and Weinstein, Philip}
}
@article {BF-2344,
	title = {Implications for Community Health from Exposure to Bushfire Air Toxics},
	journal = {Environmental Chemistry},
	volume = {3},
	year = {2006},
	month = {2006},
	pages = {235},
	abstract = {Bushfires can cause widespread air pollution through the emission of high levels of toxic air contaminants that affect the health of surrounding communities. This review of studies that have evaluated the health impacts of bushfires in North America, Australia and South-East Asia shows that the primary pollutant consistently exceeding air quality guidelines is particulate matter. Elevated levels of respirable particles are likely to be the major cause of the higher number of hospital visits and admissions for respiratory and/or cardiovascular treatment, increased mortality, and elevated respiratory-related symptoms that were observed in communities after major bushfire events. Morbidity effects were found to be mostly short-lived and reversible after exposure ceased, and were more prevalent among susceptible groups such as asthmatics, children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory and/or cardiac illnesses. Implications of such exposures to the Australian population will be discussed in relation to existing (urban) air quality measures and options for community response to bushfire events.},
	doi = {10.1071/EN06008},
	author = {Reisen, Fabienne and Brown, SK}
}
@article {BF-1264,
	title = {Research and investigation into the performance of residential boundary fencing systems in bushfires},
	year = {2006},
	institution = {CSIRO Manufacturing \& Infrastructure Technology, Fire Science \& Technology Laboratory, Bushfire Research},
	url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/_6baf_bluescope_fence_report_final.pdf},
	author = {Justin Leonard and Blanchi, Raphaele and White, N and Bicknell, A and Sargeant, AJ and Reisen, Fabienne and Cheng, M}
}
@article {BF-1293,
	title = {Manual of methods and procedures for measuring personal exposures of bushfire firefighters to air toxics},
	year = {2005},
	institution = {Bushfire CRC},
	url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/milestone_18-2-1_manual.pdf},
	author = {Reisen, Fabienne and Brown, SK}
}
