Detecting Chemical Vapor Diffusion through Firefighter Turnout Gear.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Occupational Health
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Firefighters face exposure to toxic partial combustion and pyrolysis products from burning materials.
• These substances include priority pollutants identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel passive sampling dosimeter for monitoring firefighter exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• To assess the diffusion of compounds through firefighter turnout gear and their adsorption onto the gear.
• To determine the effectiveness of an activated carbon layer (ACL) in reducing contaminant levels.

Main Methods:

• A passive sampling dosimeter was developed, incorporating firefighter turnout gear as a diffusion membrane and an activated charcoal strip (ACS) for analyte collection.
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze solvent extracts from the ACS and turnout gear.
• Target Factor Analysis (TFA) was employed for compound identification. An ACL was integrated into the dosimeter design.

Main Results:

• Analysis confirmed the diffusion of combustion and pyrolysis compounds through firefighter turnout gear.
• The study identified specific volatile organic compounds adsorbed by the turnout gear.
• The addition of an activated carbon layer (ACL) significantly reduced the presence of combustion and pyrolysis compounds detected on the ACS.

Conclusions:

• The developed passive sampling dosimeter effectively monitors firefighter exposure to VOCs.
• Firefighter turnout gear can adsorb toxic compounds, highlighting the need for protective measures.
• Integrating an activated carbon layer into the dosimeter design is a promising strategy to mitigate firefighter exposure to hazardous combustion byproducts.