Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits

Abstract

Abstract. Prescribed burning represents a serious threat to personnel fighting fires due to smoke inhalation. The aim of this study was to investigate exposure by foresters to smoke from prescribed burning, focusing on exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The methodology for smoke sampling was first evaluated. Potentially dangerous compounds were identified among the VOCs emitted by smoke fires at four prescribed burning plots located around Corsica. The measured mass concentrations for several toxic VOCs were generally higher than those measured in previous studies due to the experimental framework (short sampling distance between the foresters and the flame, low combustion, wet vegetation). In particular, benzene, phenol and furfural exceeded the legal short-term exposure limits published in Europe and/or the United States. Other VOCs such as toluene, ethybenzene or styrene remained below the exposure limits. In conclusion, clear and necessary recommendations were made for protection of personnel involved in fighting fires.

Study of the burning of Pteridium aquilinum L. and risk for the personnel involved: Thermal properties and chemical risk

“…EF are equal to 129.9 ± 3.4 g.kg -1 and 148.7 ± 10.1 g.kg -1 for leaves and stems from alive ferns and 69.4 ± 18.0 g.kg -1 and 117.0 ± 14.1 g.kg -1 for leaves and stems from dead fern. CO and 55.5 ± 7.7 g.kg -1 [34], while values recorded during field campaigns (in the case of bushtype fires) are 69.7 ± 6.17 g.kg -1 [35], 69 ± 17 g.kg -1 [36], 35 g.kg -1 [4], 67 ± 13 g.kg -1 [37], and 73.8 ± 18.4 g.kg -1 [38]. We found a greater proportion of CO during the glowing phase for alive ferns 139.3 g.kg -1 compared to dead fern 93.2 g.kg -1 .…”

“…We note that these EFs are in agreement with the literature. Indeed, the literature reveals total EF of 1550 ± 95 g.kg -1 [3], 1538 ± 125 g.kg -1 [31], 1565 ± 128 g.kg -1 [33], 1712 ± 66 g.kg -1 [34], and 1793 ± 12 g.kg -1 [30] in laboratory experiments for CO2. EF according to the combustion phase reveals that CO2 is mainly emitted during the flaming stage, at 63.2% and to a lesser extent during the glowing phase, at 32.8%.…”

Review: The Use of Bench-Scale Tests to Determine Toxic Organic Compounds in Fire Effluents and to Subsequently Estimate Their Impact on the Environment

“…Other frequently used methods for collecting VOCs are solid phase micro extraction (SPME), syringe, sorption tubes, midget impingers and Tedlar bags [80]. Several groups did a thorough study about a multitude of possible VOCs that can be released during different types of fires [81][82][83][84][85]. Care must be taken because VOCs can be released as free pollutants into the air or adsorbed on PM; therefore, different measurement techniques are necessary [86][87][88].…”

Associations Between Wildfire‐Related PM2.5 and Intensive Care Unit Admissions in the United States, 2006–2015

“…Additionally, wildfire smoke contains a mixture of particle‐ and vapor‐phase chemical species that are relevant to human health, determined by factors unique to the environment burned and burn conditions (O'Dell et al., 2020; Urbanski, 2013). Examples include gas‐phase hazardous air pollutants (O'Dell et al., 2020), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, known to have negative health effects in animal toxicity studies (Black et al., 2017), pesticides, herbicides, fire‐retardants, and other human‐made products, many with unknown toxicologic profiles under high‐heat conditions (Carratt et al., 2017; Romagnoli et al., 2014).…”