Journal Article Investigates Passive Silicone Samplers to Measure Hazardous Chemical Exposure to Firefighters
The peer-reviewed journal article “Evaluation of Passive Silicone Samplers Compared to Active Sampling Methods for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During Fire Training” has been published in Toxics. As part of the Training Fire Exposures From The Source: Developing a Risk-Benefit Framework project, this study aimed to investigate the strength of the relationship between active air sampling methods and passive silicone samplers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of hazardous chemicals firefighters are exposed to on the job, when deployed in common training fire environments.
This study was led by researchers from the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health and Enterprise Sustainability, UL Solutions. The data collected in this study directly relate to the “Chemical and Thermal Exposure Risks in a Multi Compartment Training Structure” research project, led by the same team.
Investigating Passive Silicone Samplers as an Alternative to Measuring PAH Exposure
Firefighters face a variety of airborne occupational exposure risks, including exposure to PAHs, which are formed by the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Traditional active air sampling methods, that utilize pumps to draw air through sampling media, may be challenged in measuring PAH exposure due to the extreme conditions encountered in firefighting, which can lead to equipment malfunction. These concerns have led to an increasing interest in passive air sampling alternatives, including silicone samplers that collect contaminants from the environment over time through diffusion. Passive silicone samplers offer a promising alternative because they are relatively heat resistant and easy to use in remote or time-limited environments.
This study investigated the application of passive air sampling by comparing the PAH measurements of silicone wristbands with that of active air sampling devices in multiple live fire training experiments. During the burns, researchers secured the silicone wristbands to a stationary apparatus that simulated the location and height of an instructor during live fire training.
Results Demonstrate Promise for Passive Silicone Samplers
The findings from this study reinforce the promise for passive air sampling in the fire service, as the passive silicone samplers were well correlated to active sampler results when exposed to a high level of airborne PAHs. However, the silicone samplers were not as sensitive to environments with a low level of airborne PAHs. More research is needed to better understand the effectiveness and consistency of passive air sampling methods compared to active air sampling methods.
“Firefighters often work in extreme environments where conditions make air sampling difficult. Recently, passive sampling devices, such as silicone samplers, have grown in popularity as an alternative method of assessing vapor exposures experienced by the fire service. This work will help strengthen the ability to characterize air concentrations from silicone sampler measurements for a group of chemicals with high relevance to firefighter occupational exposures.”
—Gavin Horn, lead researcher, FSRI
Read the peer-reviewed journal article: Evaluation of Passive Silicone Samplers Compared to Active Sampling Methods for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During Fire Training
This research was funded by the Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety Grant EMW-2019-FP-00770.
About Toxics:
Toxics is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on all aspects of the toxic chemicals and materials, published monthly online by MDPI.
