Plasticizer contamination of firefighter personal protective clothing - a potential factor in increased health risks in firefighters

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alexander, Barbara M. ; Baxter CS
• Description:
  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. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carcinogens Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular System Case Reports Chemistry Chlorine Esters Firefighters Hazardous Substances Hydrocarbons Neoplasms Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Phthalic Acids Plastics Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Protective Clothing Safety Vinyl Chloride

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Cancer Cardiovascular-disease Case-studies Chemical-indicators Chlorides Combustible-materials DEHP Employee-exposure Exposures Fire-fighters Fire-fighting Firefighters Gloves Occupational-exposure Phthalates Plasticizers Polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Protective-clothing Toxic-materials Vinyl-esters Vinyl-plastics Volatiles

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  11
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20044095
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2014 May; 11(5):D43-D48
• Contact Point Address:
  Barbara M. Alexander, University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056
• Email:
  alexanbm@uc.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Dioctyl phthalate (CAS RN 117-81-7) ; Poly(vinyl chloride) (CAS RN 9002-86-2)
• Editor(s):
  Lacey S
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b1c3df0268dab6065e7cfdd8b54a43a9ed2585fb22f099d70ff1d8c7609b3c0d8eeb2768924010855a067e446ca57eded3eca7f7c7a8447c381f72ae8d132495
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199934/cdc_199934_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 117.36 KB ]