The human behavioral modification recommendations during wildfire events are based on particulate matter and may be confounded by the potential risks of gas-phase pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Moreover, the majority of adults spend over 90 percent of their time indoors where there is an increased concern of indoor air quality during wildfire events. We address these timely concerns by evaluating paired indoor and outdoor PAH concentrations in residential locations and their relationship with satellite model-based categorization of wildfire smoke intensity. Low-density polyethylene passive air samplers were deployed at six urban sites for 1 week in Eugene, Oregon with matched indoor and outdoor samples and 24 h time resolution. Samples were then quantitatively analyzed for 63 PAH concentrations using gas-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A probabilistic principal components analysis was used to reduce all 63 PAHs into an aggregate measure. Linear regression of the first principal component against indoor versus outdoor shows that indoor gas-phase PAH concentrations are consistently equal to or greater than outdoor concentrations. Regression against a satellite-based model for wildfire smoke shows that outdoor, but not indoor gas-phase PAH concentrations are likely associated with wildfire events. These results point toward the need to include gas-phase pollutants such as PAHs in air pollution risk assessment.
Air quality impacts
from wildfires are poorly understood, particularly
indoors. As frequencies increase, it is important to optimize methodologies
to understand and reduce chemical exposures from wildfires. Public
health recommendations use air quality estimates from outdoor stationary
air monitors, discounting indoor air conditions, and do not consider
chemicals in the vapor phase, known to elicit adverse effects. We
investigated vapor-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in
indoor and outdoor air before, during, and after wildfires using a
community-engaged research approach. Paired passive air samplers were
deployed at 15 locations across four states. Twelve unique PAHs were
detected only in outdoor air during wildfires, highlighting a PAH
exposure mixture for future study. Heavy-molecular-weight (HMW) outdoor
PAH concentrations and average Air Quality Index (AQI) values were
positively correlated (
p
< 0.001). Indoor PAH
concentrations were higher in 77% of samples across all sampling events.
Even during wildfires, 58% of sampled locations still had higher indoor
PAH air concentrations. When AQI values exceeded 140 (unhealthy for
sensitive groups), outdoor PAH concentrations became similar to or
higher than indoors. Cancer and noncancer inhalation risk estimates
from vapor-phase PAHs were higher indoors than outdoors, regardless
of the wildfire impact. Consideration of indoor air quality and vapor-phase
PAHs could inform public health recommendations regarding wildfires.
Disaster research faces significant infrastructure challenges: regional and federal coordination, access to resources, and community collaboration. Disasters can lead to chemical exposures that potentially impact human health and cause concern in affected communities. Community-engaged research, which incorporates local knowledge and voices, is well suited for work with communities that experience impacts of environmental exposures following disasters. We present three examples of community-engaged disaster research (CEnDR) following oil spills, hurricanes, and wildfires, and their impact on long-term social, physical, and technical community infrastructure. We highlight the following CEnDR structures: researcher/community networks; convenient research tools; adaptable data collection modalities for equitable access; and return of data.
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