Historical QOD 3/10/2009: True or False: Firefighters are often exposed to hazardous substances (including carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, benzene, and sulfur dioxide), but their serum biochemical profiles are not significantly different from controls.
False. A study in Saudi Arabian firefighters showed statistically significant differences in liver function, kidney function, serum lipid profile, cortisol, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and iron between firefighters and controls.
Al-Malki AL, Rezq AM, Al-Saedy MH. Effect of fire smoke on some biochemical parameters in firefighters of Saudi Arabia. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2008 Dec 11;3:33. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-3-33. PMID: 19077241; PMCID: PMC2615434.
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