Fent Kenneth W, Evans Douglas E, Babik Kelsey, Striley Cynthia, Bertke Stephen, Kerber Steve, Smith Denise, Horn Gavin P
a Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) , Cincinnati , Ohio.
b Division of Applied Research and Technology, NIOSH , Cincinnati , Ohio.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2018 May;15(5):399-412. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2018.1445260.
In this study, we characterize the area and personal air concentrations of combustion byproducts produced during controlled residential fires with furnishings common in 21 century single family structures. Area air measurements were collected from the structure during active fire and overhaul (post suppression) and on the fireground where personnel were operating without any respiratory protection. Personal air measurements were collected from firefighters assigned to fire attack, victim search, overhaul, outside ventilation, and command/pump operator positions. Two different fire attack tactics were conducted for the fires (6 interior and 6 transitional) and exposures were compared between the tactics. For each of the 12 fires, firefighters were paired up to conduct each job assignment, except for overhaul that was conducted by 4 firefighters. Sampled compounds included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs, e.g., benzene), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and particulate (area air sampling only). Median personal air concentrations for the attack and search firefighters were generally well above applicable short-term occupational exposure limits, with the exception of HCN measured from search firefighters. Area air concentrations of all measured compounds decreased after suppression. Personal air concentrations of total PAHs and benzene measured from some overhaul firefighters exceeded exposure limits. Median personal air concentrations of HCN (16,300 ppb) exceeded the exposure limit for outside vent firefighters, with maximum levels (72,900 ppb) higher than the immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) level. Median air concentrations on the fireground (including particle count) were above background levels and highest when collected downwind of the structure and when ground-level smoke was the heaviest. No statistically significant differences in personal air concentrations were found between the 2 attack tactics. The results underscore the importance of wearing self-contained breathing apparatus when conducting overhaul or outside ventilation activities. Firefighters should also try to establish command upwind of the structure fire, and if this cannot be done, respiratory protection should be considered.
在本研究中，我们对21世纪独户住宅结构中常见家具的可控住宅火灾期间产生的燃烧副产物的区域空气浓度和个人空气浓度进行了表征。在火灾发生时和检修（灭火后）期间，从建筑物中收集区域空气测量数据，并且在消防员未佩戴任何呼吸防护装备进行作业的火场收集数据。从被分配到灭火、搜寻遇难者、检修、外部通风以及指挥/水泵操作员岗位的消防员那里收集个人空气测量数据。针对火灾实施了两种不同的灭火战术（6次内攻灭火和6次过渡灭火），并对两种战术下的暴露情况进行了比较。在12场火灾中的每一场火灾中，消防员两两一组执行各项任务，但检修工作由4名消防员进行。采样的化合物包括多环芳烃（PAHs）、挥发性有机化合物（VOCs，如苯）、氰化氢（HCN）以及颗粒物（仅区域空气采样）。灭火和搜寻消防员的个人空气浓度中位数通常远高于适用的短期职业接触限值，但搜寻消防员测得的HCN除外。灭火后，所有测量化合物的区域空气浓度均下降。一些检修消防员测得的总PAHs和苯的个人空气浓度超过了接触限值。外部通风消防员的HCN个人空气浓度中位数（16,300 ppb）超过了接触限值水平，最高值（72,900 ppb）高于立即威胁生命和健康（IDLH）水平。火场的空气浓度中位数（包括颗粒计数）高于背景水平，并且在建筑物下风方向收集数据以及地面烟雾最浓时最高。两种灭火战术之间的个人空气浓度未发现统计学上的显著差异。结果强调了在进行检修或外部通风活动时佩戴自给式呼吸器的重要性。消防员还应尝试在建筑物火灾的上风方向设立指挥点，如果无法做到这一点，则应考虑采取呼吸防护措施。
