Assessment of Ambient Exposures Firefighters Encounter While at the Fire Station: An Exploratory Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Adamkiewicz G ; Apell JN ; Bartzak MR ; Hart JE ; Prendergast DP ; Sorensen, Glorian ; Sparer EH ; Wagner, Gregory R.
• Description:
  Objective: Firefighters are at an increased risk for many types of cancer. Although most studies on this topic focus on exposures encountered while fighting fires, exposures at the fire station are also cause for concern. This pilot study aimed to describe air quality within a few fire stations in and around Boston, Massachusetts, and to investigate physical and organizational factors that may influence levels of contaminants in stations. Methods: Air sampling of particulate matter less than 2.5microm in diameter (PM2.5) and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was completed at four fire stations in Spring, 2016. Sampling occurred in the kitchen, truck bay, and just outside the station. Data were analyzed to assess differences between and within stations. Interviews (n=7) were conducted with officers at each station to explore health and safety-related organizational policies and practices. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for thematic content. Results: At each station, levels of contaminants were higher in the truck bays than either the outdoors or kitchen, and varied the most throughout the day. The station with the highest exposures in the truck bay had the lowest levels in the kitchen, which was possibly explained by new building materials and effective separation between building zones. The age and layout of the stations appeared to determine the extent to which policies favoring exhaust capture were implemented. Conclusion: Levels of PM2.5 and PAH inside fire stations may contribute to firefighter cancer risk. Through understanding contaminant variability, we can begin to design and test interventions that improve cancer prevention. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Firefighters Neoplasms Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Particulate Matter Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Ventilation Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Airborne Particles Air Contaminants Air Pollutants Air Quality Air Sampling Cancer Disease Prevention Employee Exposure Exhaust Ventilation Exposure Levels Fire Fighters Occupational Exposure PAH Particulates Physical Agents Policy Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons Risk Factors Total Worker Health TWH Work Environment Work Organization Work Practices

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• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  59
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050481
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2017 Oct; 59(10):1017-1023
• Contact Point Address:
  Emily H. Sparer, ScD, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building, Boston, MA 02115
• Email:
  emily.sparer@mail.harvard.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction ; Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:da09483be2b3f33b18a892e953c432024e84b876c9b63c22dd02dcc99b0899bc43a4c682225a918c019a3ca6d29258adb000e7213851a2b844b292f12b3e0f0d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210804/cdc_210804_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 286.94 KB ]