The Latest Research on Toxicity of the Fire Environment on Human Health

Dear Colleagues,

Uncontrolled combustion processes pose a significant threat to human life, health, and the environment. Every hour, somewhere in the world, an average of 8 people die as a result of fire toxicity, and hundreds suffer various types of injuries.  More and more attention is being paid to the hazards of primary and secondary pollution caused by chemical compounds and dust generated during a fire. There are clear indications of negative impacts on living organisms. Research has been conducted to show that of the products identified, costs are found in decisions taken regarding carcinogenic properties. In addition, according to quite conservative estimates, it is believed that fires are continually occurring with losses amounting to approximately 1% of the GDP of all countries in the world. Therefore, it is important to create an information exchange system and international scientific cooperation aimed at increasing the knowledge about the hazards arising from the properties of the fire environment and improving the level of safety.

This special edition of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) will focus on the current state of the relationship between the behavior of materials under simulated or real fire conditions and human health.

Here are some topics that can be considered for submission in this edition.

1. The effect of the type of materials and the conditions of thermal decomposition and combustion on the toxicity of the fire environment
2. The toxicity of the fire environment
3. Primary and secondary hazards in the work environment
4. Reaction to fire of materials and products used in civil engineering, maritime construction, and in means of transport, rail and road
5. Degradation mechanisms of polymeric materials, wood-based, and natural materials,
6. Fire risk assessment, risk management
7. Material life cycle analysis
8. Measuring systems for testing the composition of hot gas mixtures and reaction to fire tests (Euroclass). 

Descriptions of real fires and their effects are also welcome.

Dr. Bożena Kukfisz
Dr. Małgorzata Majder-Łopatka
Prof. Dr. Ewa Rudnik
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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