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ABSTRACTS AND REVIEWS 293 Simard, A. J . (Forest Fire Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada) "Calibration of Surface Wind Speed Observations m Canada," Information Report FF-XSO, Forest Fire Research Institute, Department of Fisheries and Forestry (April 1971) Section: J Subject: Wind speed Author's Abstract Implementation of Forest Fire Weather Forecasting requires the development of a procedure for obtaining representative wind speed observations for large areas In this paper, a procedure is outhned whereby surface observations can be used to obtam area averages The procedure involves the calibration of each station with respect to a standard value, and then relating the calibrated value to a wind speed distribution which is appUcable to the Forest Fire Weather Index. A map showmg wind speeds across Canada which can be used to cahbrate any station is also presented. Kishitani, Eoichi (University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan) "Study on Injurious Properties of Combustion Products of Building Materials at Initial Stage of Fire," Journal of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Vol X X X I , No. 1 (1971) Section: K Subjects: Lethal combustion products; Carbon monoxide. Lethal products of building materials Abstracted by B. M . Halpin Many fatalities that result from exposure to a fire environment are not under- stood. The victims are not able to escape even though they do not have any visible physical handicaps, and in many instances the victims have not been touched by the fire. The primary theory is that carbon monoxide gas is the basic cause of the problem. However, there is very little known about the interactions of the carbon monoxide, other gases, smoke and heat which are prevalent dunng a fire. The study discussed m the report provides what could be some important findmgs about fire fatahties and when the gases begin to cause problems The experiments seem to be well designed, and the report provides good documentation of the results.
294 FIRE RESEARCH The purpose of Dr Kishitam's study was to attempt to gain an understandmg of the cause of death m fires where gases are involved In particular, he hoped to determine if the cause of death m this type of case was due to carbon monoxide and other gases paralyzing the muscles of the human body such that escape was made impossible Experiments were conducted m an attempt to determine "the harmful nature of a buildmg material at the time of its combustion." They were biological experiments involving male mice of the stram dd. The behavior of the mice up to the time of death were observed and recorded, and the cause of death was determmed The study had two distinct phases The toxicity of carbon monoxide was ex- ammed in the one phase The other phase mtroduced buildmg materials under combustion In both phases electrocardiograms were obtamed for each subject. In the mitial phase of the study the lethal quantities of carbon monoxide and the behaviour of the mice resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning were ob- tamed. These data were obtained for constant concentrations and rising concen- trations of "pure" carbon monoxide Sixteen levels of CO were used varying from 0 1% to 1 8% in steps of 0 1% durmg the experunents with constant concentra- tions. I n the rismg concentration experiments a mixed gas of CO-air was intro- duced at a given rate The relationship between the time elapsed and the con- centration is given by C = a[l-expi-vt/V)] where C = concentration of CO at time t j ; = rate of introduction of mixed gas = 2 1/min V = volumes of the test chamber = 56 1 a=concentration of the mixed gas=0 1 to 2 2% in steps of 0.1%. The results of this phase are presented in five tables m the report Conclusions from this phase of the study m which only CO and air are used were 1. The toxicity of CO is due to the hindrance of the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood causing internal suffocation. 2 The degree of CO poisoning is given by the quantitative measurement of the carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. 3 No abnormalities were found m the tissue specimens on autopsy. 4. The lethal amount of carboxyhemoglobin for the mice was at about the 40% level The second phase of the study involved burning building materials and exposing the mice to the gases The test materials mcluded cedar, woodwool- cement board, fire retardant plywood, melamine finishing board, PVC, polynrethane, polystyrene, phenol resin and acryhc resin These were chosen smce they are used as interior finishing materials, and they are considered to produce large quantities of smoke and noxious gases when burned. A good summary of the test results is provided in tabulai form A record of the cardiogram traces, pictures of the smoke condition at specific times and the CO concentration as a function of time are also presented. An autopsy soot was found in the trachea of the nuce after the cedar and PVC were burned Damage to the eyes was noted with PVC and polystyrene.
