Title: | Detecting Chemical Vapor Diffusion through Firefighter Turnout Gear |
Author(s): | Corbally MA; Williams MR; Chappell JN; Sigman ME; |
Address: | "Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162367, Orlando, FL 32816-2366, USA. National Center for Forensic Science, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162367, Orlando, FL 32816-2367, USA" |
Journal Title: | Int J Environ Res Public Health |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1660-4601 (Electronic) 1661-7827 (Print) 1660-4601 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Firefighters are exposed to burning materials that may release toxic partial combustion and pyrolysis products into the environment, including compounds listed as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A novel passive sampling dosimeter device containing firefighter turnout gear as a diffusion membrane and an activated charcoal strip (ACS) for volatile analyte collection was designed and used to monitor potential exposures of firefighters to volatile organic compounds. Solvent extracts from the ACS and turnout gear diffusion layer were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the diffusion of compounds from burned substrates through firefighter turnout gear and compound adsorption to the turnout gear. The compounds in these samples were identified using target factor analysis (TFA). An activated carbon layer (ACL) was added to the dosimeter between the turnout gear and the ACS. The presence of combustion and pyrolysis compounds identified on the ACS in the dosimeter was reduced" |
Keywords: | *Firefighters Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Gases Humans *Occupational Exposure/analysis *Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis carcinogens fire debris analysis firefighters target factor analysis; |
Notes: | "MedlineCorbally, Michelle A Williams, Mary R Chappell, Jessica N Sigman, Michael E eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Switzerland 2021/05/06 Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 30; 18(9):4833. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094833" |