Health Exposure Assessment of Firefighters Caused by PAHs in PM4 and TSP after Firefighting Operations

Rakowska, Joanna; Rachwał, Marzena; Walczak, Agata

doi:10.3390/atmos13081263

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 53 publications

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“…So far, limited studies focusing on firefighters' health-risk analysis are available in the literature. Rakowska et al [125] demonstrated the existence of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks associated with Polish firefighters' exposure to fire emissions in the garage of the fire station after the day of a firefighting operation (1.01 × 10 −4 -3.45 × 10 −4 and 0.12-0.57, respectively); carcinogenic-risk values were up to 100 times higher than the levels estimated in this study. Similar results were reported by Valdenaire and co-authors [126] for Parisian sapper firefighters, with an estimated carcinogenic risk level varying between 2.25 × 10 −5 and 1.16 × 10 −4 .…”

Section: Firefighter's Health Risk Evaluationcontrasting

confidence: 60%

Characterization of Wildland Firefighters’ Exposure to Coarse, Fine, and Ultrafine Particles; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; and Metal(loid)s, and Estimation of Associated Health Risks

Teixeira,

Sousa,

Azevedo

et al. 2024

Toxics

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Firefighters’ occupational activity causes cancer, and the characterization of exposure during firefighting activities remains limited. This work characterizes, for the first time, firefighters’ exposure to (coarse/fine/ultrafine) particulate matter (PM) bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal(loid)s during prescribed fires, Fire 1 and Fire 2 (210 min). An impactor collected 14 PM fractions, the PM levels were determined by gravimetry, and the PM-bound PAHs and metal(loid)s were determined by chromatographic and spectroscopic methodologies, respectively. Firefighters were exposed to a total PM level of 1408.3 and 342.5 µg/m3 in Fire 1 and Fire 2, respectively; fine/ultrafine PM represented more than 90% of total PM. Total PM-bound PAHs (3260.2 ng/m3 in Fire 1; 412.1 ng/m3 in Fire 2) and metal(loid)s (660.8 ng/m3 versus 262.2 ng/m3), distributed between fine/ultrafine PM, contained 4.57–24.5% and 11.7–12.6% of (possible/probable) carcinogenic PAHs and metal(loid)s, respectively. Firefighters’ exposure to PM, PAHs, and metal(loid)s were below available occupational limits. The estimated carcinogenic risks associated with the inhalation of PM-bound PAHs (3.78 × 10−9 − 1.74 × 10−6) and metal(loid)s (1.50 × 10−2 − 2.37 × 10−2) were, respectively, below and 150–237 times higher than the acceptable risk level defined by the USEPA during 210 min of firefighting activity and assuming a 40-year career as a firefighter. Additional studies need to (1) explore exposure to (coarse/fine/ultrafine) PM, (2) assess health risks, (3) identify intervention needs, and (4) support regulatory agencies recommending mitigation procedures to reduce the impact of fire effluents on firefighters.

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Section: Firefighter's Health Risk Evaluationcontrasting

confidence: 60%