Measurement of Aerosol Emissions and Exposure to Firefighters during Fire Training

SHRUTI CHOUDHARY, Darlington Imhanzuaria, Erin Kobetz, Alberto Caban-Martinez, Pratim Biswas, University of Miami

     Abstract Number: 225
     Working Group: Health-Related Aerosols

Abstract
Firefighters (FF) are often exposed to toxic aerosols and gaseous species during fire response activities. Occupational industrial hygiene and biomonitoring studies have documented fire effluent from fire events to be hazardous. Epidemiologic studies reported by NIOSH have documented increased rates of specific cancers among FF[1]. Even though FF use personnel protective equipment (PPE) in the fire scene, movement, fate, and transport of carcinogenic products of combustion from fire are not well characterized, particularly in the fire training scenario. In this study, we measure aerosol emissions during the fire training using a network of low-cost particulate matter sensors and GRIMM aerosol spectrometer and collect gaseous samples for Gas Chromatography-Mass Chromatography analysis. Further, we evaluate (i) risk factors of ambient toxic aerosols and gaseous emissions during fire burns and classify them within hot, warm, cold zones and FF training and fire suppression activities, (ii) secondary emissions from FF PPE and gears associated due to particle resuspension during gear doffing procedure, (iii) respiratory system particle deposition using International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) respiratory deposition model. We then suggest possible solutions to minimize toxic aerosols and gaseous species from emissions among firefighters when training fire suppression activities.

References
[1] The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Firefighter Resources, Cancer, and other illnesses. URL https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/health.html (accessed 28 April 2022)