Exposures to air contaminants in compartment fire behavior training (CFBT) using particleboard fuel

Firefighters are exposed to a variety of combustion products during operational fires but also during live-fire training. As part of an on-going project investigating firefighter operational and training environments, this study measured the atmospheric concentrations of volatile organic compounds and acid gases outside and inside the structural firefighting ensembles worn by instructors during compartment fire behavior training using particleboard as a fuel. Atmospheric concentrations of benzene, formaldehyde, and hydrogen cyanide within the firefighting environment were observed to exceed Australian workplace exposure standards; although, the use of self-contained breathing apparatus throughout the training meant that atmospheric concentrations measured were not representative of firefighter inhalation exposures. Concentrations of air contaminants inside the structural firefighting ensembles during compartment fire behavior training were substantially lower than outside the ensembles, and much lower than those documented as potentially causing acute toxic effects in humans by dermal absorption from vapor. Although this study is focused on the generation of air contaminants in compartment fires, dermal absorption in these types of training environments may still constitute a potential route of low-level exposure to some combustion products.