Self-Reported Short- and Long-Term Respiratory Effects among PVC-Exposed Firefighters

Abstract

Firefighters exposed to burning polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were studied to assess respiratory effects at 5–6 wk post-incident and again 22 mo following the fire. Exposed subjects reported significantly more frequent and severe respiratory symptoms at both time points than did firefighter controls. In longitudinal analyses, a number of symptoms persisted over time, and acute symptom scores were significantly correlated with chronic scores. At Time 2, approximately 18% of exposed firefighters, compared with none of the controls, reported that since the time of the PVC exposure, a physician had told them that they had either asthma and/or bronchitis.