Chemical Components of Electric Vehicle and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle Fire Smoke and Their Mutagenic Effects

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kim, Yong Ho ; Nored, Adam ; Horn, Gavin P. ; Kesler, Richard M. ; Barowy, Adam ; Schraiber, Alex ; Gaudet, Benjamin ; Mayer, Alexander C. ; Niemeier-Walsh, Micah ; Fent, Kenneth W. ; Kovalcik, Kasey ; Pancras, Joseph P. ; Gilmour, M. Ian
• Description:
  Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have become the primary power source for electric vehicles (EVs) around the world. However, this technology comes with important risks during EV fires if the batteries are damaged, improperly overcharged, or overheated, leading to intense heat and considerable amounts of smoke, which may have different properties than those from fires in internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). Chemical components of smoke emissions from EV fires and their potential health risks are not fully understood. In this study, full-scale fire tests of six EVs and two ICEVs were conducted to simulate real-world fire scenarios. Respirable particulate matter (PM) in the smoke emissions was collected for chemical analyses and mutagenicity tests using the Ames assay. Results showed that the EV smoke PM contained more metals than the ICEV smoke samples, but the mass fractions of the PM varied depending on vehicle models. While Li, Mn, Co, and Ni were the predominant metals of the EV fire smoke emissions, Zn was a primary contributor to the total metal content of the ICEV fire smoke PM. In addition, fluoride was strongly enriched in the EV fire smoke samples. On an equal mass basis, most EV fire smoke PM induced more substantial mutagenic potencies compared to the ICEV fire smoke samples. These findings provide an initial understanding of the chemistry and potential health effects associated with EV fire smoke exposures and could inform protective strategies for emergency responders to EV fire events.
• Subjects:
  Fires Motor Vehicles Occupational Health Safety Vehicle Emissions
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Electric Vehicle Fire; Lithium-ion Battery Fire; Combustion Smoke; Particulate Matter; Mutagenicity; Metals Motor Vehicles; Batteries; Smoke Inhalation; Particulate Dust; Combustion Products; Metals; Mutagenicity; Chemical Hazards;
• ISSN:
  0944-1344
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; Illinois ; Ohio ; Chicago Region [OSHA] ; Atlanta Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  11 pdf pages
• Volume:
  32
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071121
• Citation:
  Environ Sci Pollut Res 2025 Oct; 32(46):26629-26639
• Email:
  kim.yongho@epa.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Science and Pollution Research
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b3d9cef5f29bc3c7bd3d51a3bc8731ab3e604290cba531e8ec1d726c61c826c924230b6402f7cd545ac5b8dbe3e33a8140adb6ba14067e5b3521c40a24f95e0e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257897/cdc_257897_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.52 MB ]