Plasticizer Contamination of Firefighter Personal Protective Clothing – A Potential Factor in Increased Health Risks in Firefighters

Abstract

Chemical exposures may be responsible for firefighters' elevated incidences of cancer and cardiovascular disease. This study characterized semivolatile chemical contamination on firefighter personal protective clothing to assess exposure of firefighters to these chemicals. Samples from used firefighter protective clothing, including gloves, hood, and one coat wristlet, were extracted with methylene chloride and analyzed by EPA method 8270 for semivolatile contaminants, including 20 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 6 phthalate diesters. Twenty-two of the chemicals of interest were found on at least one clothing swatch. Only di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer, added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to increase flexibility, was found on every swatch. DEHP concentrations were the highest of any chemical measured, and were 52 to 875 times higher than any PAH concentration measured. DEHP was also detected on most items of unused firefighter personal protective clothing, although at much lower levels. These findings suggest that firefighters are exposed to high levels of DEHP, a probable human carcinogen, and at levels much higher than PAHs, the semivolatile toxic combustion products most extensively studied historically. Firefighter exposure to DEHP and other phthalate diesters therefore merits further study.

Structural Fire Fighting Ensembles: Accumulation and Off-gassing of Combustion Products

“…Potential routes of exposure from contaminated structural ensembles include dermal absorption through skin contact and release of vapors and/or particulates when the firefighter is no longer wearing respiratory protection. (2)(3)(4)(5) Few studies have aimed to specifically characterize the contamination of structural fire fighting ensembles occurring as a result of fire fighting operations or its potential to cause future occupational exposures. Three of these studies (2,4,5) conducted destructive testing on a variety of items of occupationally soiled firefighter protective clothing, including gloves, coats, and flash hoods.…”

“…(2)(3)(4)(5) Few studies have aimed to specifically characterize the contamination of structural fire fighting ensembles occurring as a result of fire fighting operations or its potential to cause future occupational exposures. Three of these studies (2,4,5) conducted destructive testing on a variety of items of occupationally soiled firefighter protective clothing, including gloves, coats, and flash hoods. During these studies a variety of contaminants, including phenols, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals, were identified.…”

“…During these studies a variety of contaminants, including phenols, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals, were identified. However, the items investigated in the studies by Stull et al (2) and Alexander and Baxter (4) had unspecified usage histories at emergency incidents. Fabian et al (5) investigated contamination accumulating on new protective clothing items over a short-term period, and included the usage history of the protective clothing items.…”

“…The deposition of a range of PAHs has also been identified on the structural fire fighting ensembles of instructors engaged in live fire training. (6) Comparison of contaminant concentrations between studies involving shorter (5) and longer (4) periods of occupational use has led to the suggestion that contamination of firefighter protective clothing increases with longer periods of use. (4) However, the accumulation of contamination on individual structural fire fighting ensembles across multiple exposures to fire environments has not previously been investigated.…”

“…(6) Comparison of contaminant concentrations between studies involving shorter (5) and longer (4) periods of occupational use has led to the suggestion that contamination of firefighter protective clothing increases with longer periods of use. (4) However, the accumulation of contamination on individual structural fire fighting ensembles across multiple exposures to fire environments has not previously been investigated. Further, given the wide range of combustion products that may be absorbed by structural fire fighting ensembles from various types of fire environments, the potential for off-gassing of these materials from ensembles post-fire requires further investigation.…”