Evaluating the ingress of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) specifically naphthalene through firefighter hoods and base layers.

Structural firefighters are exposed to an array of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as a result of incomplete combustion of both synthetic and natural materials. PAHs are found in both the particulate and vapor phases in the firefighting environment and are significantly associated with acute and chronic diseases, including cancer. Using a fireground exposure simulator (FES) and standing mannequins dressed in four different firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) conditions, each with varying levels of protective hood interface and particulate-blocking features, the efficacy of the hoods was assessed against the ingress of PAHs (specifically, naphthalene).

Evaluation of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) weight on firefighter stamina, comfort, and postural stability.

Firefighters wear personal protective equipment to protect them from the thermal and chemical environment in which they operate. The self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) provides isolation of the airway from the hazardous fireground. National standards limit SCBA weight, however, integration of additional features could result in an SCBA exceeding the current limit.

Evaluating workplace protection factors (WPFs) of different firefighter PPE interface control measures for select volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Structural firefighters are exposed to a complex set of contaminants and combustion byproducts, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Additionally, recent studies have found structural firefighters' skin may be exposed to multiple chemical compounds via permeation or penetration of chemical byproducts through or around personal protective equipment (PPE). This mannequin-based study evaluated the effectiveness of four different PPE conditions with varying contamination control measures (incorporating PPE interface design features and particulate blocking materials) to protect against ingress of several VOCs in a smoke exposure chamber.

Best practices associated with residential fire preparedness among individuals who use a wheelchair or scooter full time: A scoping review.

Context: During the evacuation of a residence during a fire event, individuals must often climb over objects or navigate stairs, which may be challenging or impossible for an individual who uses a wheelchair or scooter for mobility. Consequently, fire preparedness is critical to enhancing this population's safety and well-being.

Objective: This study examines best practices associated with fire preparedness among individuals who use a wheelchair or scooter to inform and facilitate fire preparedness education.

Impact of firefighter hood design on range of motion, noise production and hearing.

Firefighter hoods must provide protection from elevated temperatures and products of combustion while simultaneously being comfortable and limiting interference with firefighting movement or completion of fireground activities. This study was to quantify the impact of hood design (traditional knit hood vs. several models of particulate-blocking hoods) on wearability measures such as range of motion, noise production and hearing threshold.

Evaluating Exposure to VOCs and Naphthalene for Firefighters Wearing Different PPE Configurations through Measures in Air, Exhaled Breath, and Urine.

Firefighters are at an increased risk of cancer due to their occupational exposure to combustion byproducts, especially when those compounds penetrate the firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) ensemble. This has led to questions about the impact of base layers (i.e.

Quantification of Elevated Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) Concentration Typical in a Residential Fire Environment Using Mid-IR Tunable Diode Laser.

A versatile portable tunable diode laser based measurement system for measuring elevated concentrations of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in a time-resolved manner is developed for application in the fire environment. The direct absorption tunable diode laser spectroscopy (DA-TDLAS) technique is employed using the R11 absorption line centered at 3345.3 cm (2989.

Experimental data from compartment fires with gas burner and upholstered furniture fuels.

There exists a variety of specialized fire dynamics routines, zone fire models, and field fire models. Many of these heuristics and correlations rely on experimental data from fires fueled by gas burners or liquid pool fires and have had minimal, if any, validation against data from fires with solid, more complex fuels, such as upholstered furniture. One hundred and twenty fire experiments were conducted inside a compartment that contained a single ventilation opening in the form of a doorway that was either open or closed for the entirety of each experiment.

Use of Preliminary Exposure Reduction Practices or Laundering to Mitigate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contamination on Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment Ensembles.

Chronic health risks associated with firefighting continue to be documented and studied, however, the complexity of occupational exposures and the relationship between occupational exposure and contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE) remains unknown. Recent work has revealed that common PPE cleaning practices, which are becoming increasingly more common in the fire service, are not effective in removing certain contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), from PPE. To better understand the relationship between contaminated firefighter PPE and potential exposure to PAHs, and to gain further understanding of the efficacy of cleaning practices, we used a standardized fire exposure simulator that created repeatable conditions and measured PPE surface contamination levels via wipe sampling and filters attached to firefighter gear worn by standing mannequins.

Exposure Risks and Potential Control Measures for a Fire Behavior Lab Training Structure: Part B. Chemical Gas Concentrations.

Firefighters' or instructors' exposure to airborne chemicals during live-fire training may depend on fuels being burned, fuel orientation and participants' location within the structure. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of different control measures on exposure risk to combustion byproducts during fire dynamics training where fuel packages are mounted at or near the ceiling. These measures included substitution of training fuels (low density wood fiberboard, oriented strand board (OSB), pallets, particle board, plywood) and adoption of engineering controls such as changing the location of the instructor and students using the structure.

Experimental data from gas burner fires in residential structure with HVAC system.

The fire modeling community currently lacks full-scale experi- mental data from fires in residential-style structures with heat- ing, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Further, there is an absence of data quantifying the generation of HO due to combustion and the subsequent transport of those gases with a structure. Propane gas burner fire experiments were con- ducted in a purpose-built two-story structure instrumented to measure temperature, pressure, velocity, and gas concentrations.

Silicone passive sampling used to identify novel dermal chemical exposures of firefighters and assess PPE innovations.

A plethora of chemicals are released into the air during combustion events, including a class of compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs have been implicated in increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, both of which are disease endpoints of concern in structural firefighters. Current commercially available personal protective equipment (PPE) typically worn by structural firefighters during fire responses have gaps in interfaces between the ensemble elements (e.

Full-scale walk-in containerized lithium-ion battery energy storage system fire test data.

Three installation-level lithium-ion battery (LIB) energy storage system (ESS) tests were conducted to the specifications of the UL 9540A standard test method [1]. Each test included a mocked-up initiating ESS unit rack and two target ESS unit racks installed within a standard size 6.06 m (20 ft) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) container.

Hierarchy of contamination control in the fire service: Review of exposure control options to reduce cancer risk.

The international fire service community is actively engaged in a wide range of activities focused on development, testing, and implementation of effective approaches to reduce exposure to contaminants and the related cancer risk. However, these activities are often viewed independent of each other and in the absence of the larger overall effort of occupational health risk mitigation. This narrative review synthesizes the current research on fire service contamination control in the context of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Hierarchy of Controls, a framework that supports decision making around implementing feasible and effective control solutions in occupational settings.

Firefighters' urinary concentrations of VOC metabolites after controlled-residential and training fire responses.

Introduction: Firefighters are exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during structural fire responses and training fires, several of which (e.g., benzene, acrolein, styrene) are known or probable carcinogens.

Hemostatic Responses to Multiple Bouts of Firefighting Activity: Female vs. Male Differences in a High Demand, High Performance Occupation.

While the fire service has long been a male-dominated occupation, women's participation in this strenuous, high risk, high performance activity has increased in recent years. Firefighting induces significant cardiovascular strain, including hemostatic disruption; however, the effect of sex on hemostatic responses has not been investigated despite evidence that there are sex-related differences in hemostatic variables at rest and following exercise. Thus, we investigated hemostatic responses in age- and BMI-matched male and female firefighters who performed 3-4 evolutions of firefighting drills over a 3 h period.

Characterizing exposure to benzene, toluene, and naphthalene in firefighters wearing different types of new or laundered PPE.

The fire service has become more aware of the potential for adverse health outcomes due to occupational exposure to hazardous combustion byproducts. Because of these concerns, personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers have developed new protection concepts like particulate-blocking hoods to reduce firefighters' exposures. Additionally, fire departments have implemented exposure reduction interventions like routine laundering of PPE after fire responses.

Airborne contamination during post-fire investigations: Hot, warm and cold scenes.

Fire investigators may be occupationally exposed to many of the same compounds as the more widely studied fire suppression members of the fire service but are often tasked with working in a given exposure for longer periods ranging from hours to multiple days and may do so with limited personal protective equipment. In this study, we characterize the area air concentrations of contaminants during post-fire investigation of controlled residential fires with furnishings common to current bedroom, kitchen and living room fires in the United States. Area air sampling was conducted during different investigation phases including when investigations might be conducted immediately after fire suppression and extended out to 5 days after the fire.