Occupational Exposures to Cyanide in Baltimore Fire Fighters

Abstract

A group of 479 fire fighters were investigated for routine exposure to hydrogen cyanide in the fire atmosphere using measurements of serum SCN-. Fire fighters were exposed to levels of hydrogen cyanide sufficient to raise their mean serum SCN- levels above that of controls. This elevation of serum SCN- occurred independently of smoking habits. Exposures to cyanide occurred much less frequently than previously studied exposures to CO. Difficulties of correlating acute symptoms and the effectiveness of mask use with serum SCN- are discussed.