Airborne Contaminants During Controlled Residential Fires

Details

• Personal Author:
  Babik K ; Bertke S ; Evans DE ; Fent, Kenneth W. ; Horn, Gavin P. ; Kerber, Stephen ; Smith, Denise L. ; Striley, Cindy
• Description:
  In this study, we characterize the area and personal air concentrations of combustion byproducts produced during controlled residential fires with furnishings common in 21st century single family structures. Area air measurements were collected from the structure during active fire and overhaul (post suppression) and on the fireground where personnel were operating without any respiratory protection. Personal air measurements were collected from firefighters assigned to fire attack, victim search, overhaul, outside ventilation, and command/pump operator positions. Two different fire attack tactics were conducted for the fires (6 interior and 6 transitional) and exposures were compared between the tactics. For each of the 12 fires, firefighters were paired up to conduct each job assignment, except for overhaul that was conducted by four firefighters. Sampled compounds included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs e.g., benzene), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and particulate (area air sampling only). Median personal air concentrations for the attack and search firefighters were generally well above applicable short-term occupational exposure limits, with the exception of HCN measured from search firefighters. Area air concentrations of all measured compounds decreased after suppression. Personal air concentrations of total PAHs and benzene measured from some overhaul firefighters exceeded exposure limits. Median personal air concentrations of HCN (16,300 ppb) exceeded the exposure limit for outside vent firefighters, with maximum levels (72,900 ppb) higher than the immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) level. Median air concentrations on the fireground (including particle count) were above background levels and highest when collected downwind of the structure and when ground-level smoke was the heaviest. No statistically significant differences in personal air concentrations were found between the two attack tactics. The results underscore the importance of wearing self-contained breathing apparatus when conducting overhaul or outside ventilation activities. Firefighters should also try to establish command upwind of the structure fire, and if this cannot be done, respiratory protection should be considered. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Monitoring Firefighters Fires Hydrocarbons Occupational Health Particulate Matter Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Safety Volatile Organic Compounds
• Keywords:
  Air Sampling Author Keywords: Firefighters Combustion Fire Fighters Fire Fighting Fire Hazards Fire Suppression HCN Overhaul PAHs Particulate Particulates Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds

  More +
• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  399-412
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051091
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2018 May; 15(5):399-412
• Contact Point Address:
  Kenneth W. Fent, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Ave, MS R-14, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  kfent@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Hydrogen cyanide (CAS RN 74-90-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7cf309fb717f51d34c427e29e1793b3eb337eb15147195d049aa4f1dffce15517f537a99956f377df2073b6854d3deea0d7b758eef0b4e244d3d89a41e62b0aa
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211217/cdc_211217_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.37 MB ]