Assessment of coarse, fine, and ultrafine particulate matter at different microenvironments of fire stations

The concentrations of respirable particulate matter (PM) and the impact on indoor air quality in occupational settings remains poorly characterized. This study assesses, for the first time, the cumulative and non-cumulative concentrations of 14 fractions of coarse (3.65-9.88 μm), fine (0.156-2.47 μm), and ultrafine (0.015-0.095 μm) PM inside the garage of heavy vehicles, firefighting personal protective equipment' storage room, bar, and a common area of seven Portuguese fire stations. Sampling campaigns were performed during a regular work week at the fire stations. Levels of daily total cumulative PM ranged from 277.4 to 413.2 μg/m³ (maximum values of 811.4 μg/m³), with the bar (370.1 μg/m³) and the PPE' storage room (361.3 μg/m³) presenting slightly increased levels (p > 0.05) than the common area (324.8 μg/m³) and the garage (339.4 μg/m³). The location of the sampling site, the proximity to local industries and commercial activities, the layout of the building, the heating system used, and indoor sources influenced the PM concentrations. Fine (193.8-301.0 μg/m³) and ultrafine (41.3-78.2 μg/m³) particles were predominant in the microenvironments of all fire stations and accounted for 71.5% and 17.8% of daily total cumulative levels, respectively; coarse particles (23.3-47.1 μg/m³) represented 10.7% of total PM. The permissible exposure limit (5.0 mg/m³) defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Organization for respirable dust was not overcome in the evaluated fire stations. Results suggest firefighters' regular exposure to fine and ultrafine PM inside fire stations which will contribute to cardiorespiratory health burden. Further studies are needed to characterize firefighters' exposure to fine and ultrafine PM inside fire stations, identify main emission sources, and evaluate the contribution of exposures at fire stations to firefighters' occupational health risks.