Emergency responders (fire, police and
ambulance services) were exposed in 170
(42%) of the 402 incidents. In only nine
incidents were symptoms reported with 28
(2%) of the 1514 responders aVected. Twelve
became ill after fires involving unspecified
chemicals, industrial waxes and plastics, six
had symptoms after work in a flood, three
became ill after a release of wood preservative
containing arsenic and copper, and one after a
release of phenol fumes at a factory. Symptoms
experienced were respiratory and eye irritation
(four incidents) headache and throat irritation
(three incidents), nausea (two incidents) and
dizziness (one incident).