Fire and ecological safety of residential buildings

Abstract

This study examines the issue of ensuring environmental protection on fires in the residential buildings. The containment of soil with dibenso-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans associated with residential buildings fires was proven for the first time ever by using chromatography-mass spectrometric method. Aggregate mass content of 2,3,7,8-chlorine-substitution dibenso-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in soil samples (equivalent to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins) found near seats of fire in Moscow region amounts to 2.29 ng/kg and for the ashes of burnt combustible content of residential buildings it amounts to 13.3 ng/kg. Dioxins and dibenzofurans can spread through air, water and food chains; to accumulate in living organisms, have a long half-life. In this they show similarities with the effects of radionuclides and heavy metals on terrestrial ecosystems and water bodies. The accumulation of dioxins and dibenzofurans in human organism provoke the dysfunction of the reproductive, hormonal, immune systems, cancer, birth defects, impaired development. The constant contact with dioxins can be the reason of diseases appearance among the population and fire fighters as well as their descendants even at less significant one time emission of such superecotoxicants during a fire in residential buildings in comparison with the large fire. It is dangerous to make new building development of the territory as well as to eat cultures, being grown in the soil, polluted by dioxins without proper quality control of soils and grounds as well as to use water from ground and underground water sources near the places where have been fires. To protect human life and health from the effects of dioxins entering the environment with soil fires one may recommend adding vegetable soil in it to increase fertility. Furthermore it is reasonable to develop individual sensors for firemen to determine nonrecurring and accumulative doses of dioxins in the body and to take timely measures for maintaining their performance capabilities and health preservation. Therefore, the problem of identifying, monitoring and mitigating the factors of fire effects on a person and his living environment remains a critical challenge.