Firefighters' and instructors’ absorption of PAHs and benzene during training exercises

Fent, Kenneth W.; Toennis, Christine; Sammons, Deborah L.; Robertson, Shirley; Bertke, Stephen; Calafat, Antònia M.; Pleil, Joachim D.; Wallace, M. Ariel Geer; Kerber, Stephen; Smith, Denise L.; Horn, Gavin P.

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.06.006

Cited by 58 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…After each scenario, the firefighters and instructors doffed their turnout gear in an empty gear and materials storage bay 60-70 m west of the burn structures, which in most cases was upwind from the prevailing wind direction, and then promptly entered an adjacent climate-controlled transport container for additional sample and specimen collections that are reported in a companion paper. [15] Personal air sampling Personal air samples were collected for PAHs, HCN, and benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes (BTEX) using NIOSH methods 5528, 6010, and 1501, respectively. [16] The sampling pumps were stored in pockets or straps on the outer shell of the turnout jackets, and sampling media were positioned near the collar of the jackets.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding airborne contaminants produced by different fuel packages during training fires

Fent

Mayer

Bertke

et al. 2019

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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Fire training may expose firefighters and instructors to hazardous airborne chemicals that vary by the training fuel. We conducted area and personal air sampling during three instructional scenarios per day involving the burning of two types (designated as alpha and bravo) of oriented strand board (OSB), pallet and straw, or the use of simulated smoke, over a period of 5 days. Twenty-four firefighters and ten instructors participated. Firefighters participated in each scenario once (separated by about 48 hr) and instructors supervised three training exercise per scenarios (completed in 1 day). Personal air samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and hydrogen cyanide during live-fire scenarios (excluding simulated smoke). Area air samples were analyzed for acid gases, aldehydes, isocyanates, and VOCs for all scenarios. For the live-fire scenarios, median personal air concentrations of benzene and PAHs exceeded applicable shortterm exposure limits and were higher among firefighters than instructors. When comparing results by type of fuel, personal air concentrations of benzene and PAHs were higher for bravo OSB compared to other fuels. Median area air concentrations of aldehydes and isocyanates were also highest during the bravo OSB scenario, while pallet and straw produced the highest median concentrations of certain VOCs and acid gases. These results suggest usage of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) by both instructors and firefighters is essential during training fires to reduce potential inhalation exposure. Efforts should be taken to clean skin and clothing as soon as possible after live-fire training to limit dermal absorption as well.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding airborne contaminants produced by different fuel packages during training fires

Fent

Mayer

Bertke

et al. 2019

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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“…Live fire training also represents a possibility for carcinogen exposure, especially for training instructors [ 14 ]. An Australian study provided some evidence that instructors at a training facility for firefighters were at increased risks of overall cancer, testicular cancer, brain cancer, and cutaneous melanoma compared with the general population [ 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work Conditions and Practices in Norwegian Fire Departments From 1950 Until Today: A Survey on Factors Potentially Influencing Carcinogen Exposure

Jakobsen

Babigumira

Danielsen

et al. 2020

Safety and Health at Work

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Background Meta-analyses have shown firefighters to be at an increased risk of several cancer types. Occupational carcinogen exposure may explain these increased risks. This study aims to describe Norwegian fire departments' work conditions from 1950 until today, focusing on factors relevant for potential occupational carcinogen exposure. Methods With the help of a reference group, we developed a questionnaire on topics related to occupational exposure to carcinogens for the period 1950–2018. Selected Norwegian fire departments provided department-specific responses. Results Sixteen departments, providing fire services for 48% of the Norwegian population as of 2019 and mainly consisting of professional firefighters, responded to our questionnaire. The introduction of synthetic firefighting foams, more regular live fire training, the introduction of chemical diving, and a higher number of diesel-driven fire service vehicles were identified as changes thought to increase exposure to occupational carcinogens. Changes thought to decrease exposure included the switch from negative to positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatuses, the use of self-contained breathing apparatuses during all phases of firefighting, the use of ventilating fans during firefighting, increased attention to flammable materials used during live fire training, increased attention to handling and cleaning of turnout gear and other equipment, and installment of exhaust removal systems in apparatus bays. Conclusion Norwegian fire departments' work conditions have seen several changes since 1950, and this could influence firefighters' occupational carcinogen exposure. A peak of carcinogen exposure may have occurred in the 1970s and 1980s before recent changes have reduced exposure.

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“…Although 55% of FSIs did have a limit set by management, they varied across services from two to 10 per week. In the USA, instructors have been reported to complete three to five live fires per day over a period of several weeks or months (Fent et al., 2019). The most commonly reported limit to exposure numbers in the UK was nine per month, which is not a formal policy, but one proposed by the UK Chief Fire Officers’ Association (2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme occupational heat exposure is associated with elevated haematological and inflammatory markers in Fire Service Instructors

Watkins

Hayes

Watt

et al. 2020

Experimental Physiology

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Fire Service Instructors (FSIs) experience ∼10 times more fire exposures than firefighters (FFs), and the increased physiological stress from this potentially puts them at risk of ill health and future cardiac events. The aim of the study was to establish whether FSIs exhibit elevated biomarkers associated with cardiac event risk, identify whether FSIs experience systemic inflammation linked to the frequency of fire exposure and evaluate a proposed exposure limit of nine exposures per month. Blood samples were collected from 110 Fire Service personnel (mean ± SD, age,44 ± 7 years; height, 178.1 ± 7.1 cm; and body mass, 84.3 ± 12.0 kg; FSIs n = 53 and FFs n = 57) for biomarker analysis. Work history details were collected from all participants. Participants with biomarker concentrations above healthy reference ranges were classified as being 'at risk'. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet count, cardiac troponin T, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1 , C-reactive protein and immunoglobulin G were greater in FSIs than in FFs (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that 18.8% of IL-6, 24.9% of IL-1 , 29.2% of C-reactive protein and 10.9% of immunoglobulin G variance could be explained by the number of exposures to heat per month. Odds ratios revealed that those FSIs above the nine per month exposure limit were six to 12 times more likely to be classified as 'at risk' and were 16 times more likely to experience symptoms of ill health. Increased cytokine levels suggest that FSIs experience systemic inflammation, which is related to symptoms of ill health. We propose that an exposure limit could reduce the prevalence of these biomarker risk factors and ill health.

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Firefighters' and instructors’ absorption of PAHs and benzene during training exercises

Cited by 58 publications

References 27 publications

Understanding airborne contaminants produced by different fuel packages during training fires

Understanding airborne contaminants produced by different fuel packages during training fires

Work Conditions and Practices in Norwegian Fire Departments From 1950 Until Today: A Survey on Factors Potentially Influencing Carcinogen Exposure

Extreme occupational heat exposure is associated with elevated haematological and inflammatory markers in Fire Service Instructors

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