Characterization of Wildland Firefighters' Exposure to Coarse, Fine, and Ultrafine Particles; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; and Metal(loid)s, and Estimation of Associated Health Risks

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Teixeira, J (Author) Other; Sousa, G (Author) Other; Azevedo, R (Author) Other; Agostinho Almeida (Author) FFUP; Delerue-Matos, C (Author) Other; Wang, XY (Author) Other; Alice Santos Silva (Author) FFUP; Rodrigues, F (Author) Other; Oliveira, M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Toxics

Vol. 12

Final page: 422

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-010-PBN

DOI: 10.3390/toxics12060422

Abstract (EN): Firefighters' occupational activity causes cancer, and the characterization of exposure during firefighting activities remains limited. This work characterizes, for the first time, firefighters' exposure to (coarse/fine/ultrafine) particulate matter (PM) bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal(loid)s during prescribed fires, Fire 1 and Fire 2 (210 min). An impactor collected 14 PM fractions, the PM levels were determined by gravimetry, and the PM-bound PAHs and metal(loid)s were determined by chromatographic and spectroscopic methodologies, respectively. Firefighters were exposed to a total PM level of 1408.3 and 342.5 mu g/m3 in Fire 1 and Fire 2, respectively; fine/ultrafine PM represented more than 90% of total PM. Total PM-bound PAHs (3260.2 ng/m3 in Fire 1; 412.1 ng/m3 in Fire 2) and metal(loid)s (660.8 ng/m3 versus 262.2 ng/m3), distributed between fine/ultrafine PM, contained 4.57-24.5% and 11.7-12.6% of (possible/probable) carcinogenic PAHs and metal(loid)s, respectively. Firefighters' exposure to PM, PAHs, and metal(loid)s were below available occupational limits. The estimated carcinogenic risks associated with the inhalation of PM-bound PAHs (3.78 x 10-9 - 1.74 x 10-6) and metal(loid)s (1.50 x 10-2 - 2.37 x 10-2) were, respectively, below and 150-237 times higher than the acceptable risk level defined by the USEPA during 210 min of firefighting activity and assuming a 40-year career as a firefighter. Additional studies need to (1) explore exposure to (coarse/fine/ultrafine) PM, (2) assess health risks, (3) identify intervention needs, and (4) support regulatory agencies recommending mitigation procedures to reduce the impact of fire effluents on firefighters.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 22