Evaluating workplace protection factors (WPFs) of different firefighter PPE interface control measures for select volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Abstract

Structural firefighters are exposed to a complex set of contaminants and combustion byproducts, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Additionally, recent studies have found structural firefighters’ skin may be exposed to multiple chemical compounds via permeation or penetration of chemical byproducts through or around personal protective equipment (PPE). This mannequin-based study evaluated the effectiveness of four different PPE conditions with varying contamination control measures (incorporating PPE interface design features and particulate blocking materials) to protect against ingress of several VOCs in a smoke exposure chamber. We also investigated the effectiveness of long-sleeve base layer clothing to provide additional protection against skin contamination. Outside gear air concentrations were measured from within the smoke exposure chamber at the breathing zone, abdomen, and thigh heights. Personal air concentrations were collected from mannequins under PPE at the same general heights and under the base layer at abdomen and thigh heights. Sampled contaminants included benzene, toluene, styrene, and naphthalene. Results suggest that VOCs can readily penetrate the ensembles. Workplace protection factors (WPFs) were near one for benzene and toluene and increased with increasing molecular weight of the contaminants. WPFs were generally lower under hoods and jackets compared to under pants. For all PPE conditions, the pants appeared to provide the greatest overall protection against ingress of VOCs, but this may be due in part to the lower air concentrations toward the floor (and cuffs of pants) relative to the thigh-height outside gear concentrations used in calculating the WPFs. Providing added interface control measures and adding particulate-blocking materials appeared to provide a protective benefit against less-volatile chemicals, like naphthalene and styrene.

Keywords:

• Firefighters
• interface control
• naphthalene
• personal protective equipment (PPE)
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank all the people who assisted in field setup, sample collection, and sample analysis efforts including Ken Sparks, Kathleen Navarro, Seth McCormick, Brian Christensen, and Jen Roberts, as well as the staff at the Illinois Fire Service Institute. M. Christina Kander would like to thank Dr. Tiina Reponen and Dr. Jun Wang for their mentorship and direction at the University of Cincinnati.

Disclosure statement

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article or its supplementary materials.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Assistance to Firefighters Grant program [EMW-2017-FP-00635] and made possible through an agreement with the CDC Foundation.