Contamination of Firefighter Personal Protective Gear

Autor: Alexander, Barbara M.
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2012
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Druh dokumentu: Text
Popis: The hazards of firefighting include heat, smoke and the risk of building collapse. However, the most frequent cause of on-duty firefighter deaths is not trauma but cardiac arrest. Firefighters also face a high risk of chronic illnesses, including an elevated risk of several cancers. These adverse effects may result from chemical exposures incurred during firefighting. This research aims to characterize chemical contamination on firefighter personal protective gear as a surrogate for the risk of dermal exposure.Methods: Chemical contamination on firefighter personal protective gear was characterized by taking wipe samples from the inside of firefighter self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) facepieces and by cutting swatches from unused and used firefighter hoods, gloves and one coat. Wipe samples and swatches were extracted with methylene chloride and analyzed by EPA method 8270 for the presence of semivolatile contaminants, including 20 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 6 phthalates.Results: This is the first time that wipe samples from firefighter facepieces have been reported. Low levels of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were consistently measured on the facepieces (range
Databáze: Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations