Koslitz Stephan, Taeger Dirk, Heinrich Birgit, Köster Daniel, Pelzl Tim, Käfferlein Heiko Udo, Pitzke Katrin, Brüning Thomas, Behrens Thomas
Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Germany.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2025 Jan;22(1):52-61. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2024.2421017. Epub 2025 Jan 2.
Firefighters are exposed to a variety of hazardous substances during firefighting activities. Fire smoke contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) some of which have been shown to cause cancer in humans. To assess dermal exposure of firefighters during real-life firefighting, a whole-body dosimetry method was applied to determine the PAH that settles on the skin despite firefighters wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). In total, 17 firefighters wore cotton undergarments (shirts, trousers, gloves, socks, and balaclavas) under their PPE during firefighting missions. After firefighting, fabric pieces were analyzed for 16 US-EPA PAHs and benzo[e]pyrene. Detailed information about the fire missions was solicited from firefighters via a questionnaire. Seventy percent of firefighters provided their undergarments and PAHs were analyzed in 309 punched-out fabric pieces. PAHs were quantified in 27 out of the 309 fabric pieces (8.7%). Generally, PAH concentrations were higher after firefighting in residential buildings compared to exposure levels after fighting vehicle or outdoor fires. Phenanthrene and pyrene were the predominant compounds and were observed up to 657 and 244 ng/g, respectively. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) was detected in 10 fabric pieces (3.2%) up to 103 ng/g, but all levels were below 1,000 ng/g, the threshold limit of B[a]P according to European Consumer Goods Regulation (European Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1513). It was demonstrated that firefighting PPE can be an effective shield against dermal exposure to carcinogenic substances. Thus, all measured PAH concentrations in the fabric pieces were below the threshold limit of 1,000 ng/g of each PAH, which is allowed in consumer goods in the European Union for clothing worn on the skin However, individual dermal exposures cannot be completely avoided during firefighting missions. The use of undergarments, gloves, socks, and balaclavas for whole-body dosimetry, which are worn under the PPE, can be useful in assessing whether hazardous substances penetrate the firefighters' PPE.
消防员在灭火活动中会接触到各种有害物质。火灾烟雾中含有多环芳烃（PAHs），其中一些已被证明可导致人类患癌。为评估消防员在实际灭火过程中的皮肤暴露情况，采用了一种全身剂量测定方法来确定尽管消防员穿着个人防护装备（PPE），但仍会沉积在皮肤上的PAH。在总共17名消防员执行灭火任务期间，他们在个人防护装备下穿着棉质内衣（衬衫、裤子、手套、袜子和头套）。灭火后，对织物碎片进行了16种美国环保署PAHs和苯并[e]芘的分析。通过问卷调查从消防员那里获取了有关灭火任务的详细信息。70%的消防员提供了他们的内衣，对309块冲压织物碎片进行了PAHs分析。在309块织物碎片中有27块（8.7%）检测到了PAHs。一般来说，与扑救车辆火灾或室外火灾后的暴露水平相比，在居民楼灭火后的PAH浓度更高。菲和芘是主要化合物，分别检测到高达657和244 ng/g。在10块织物碎片（3.2%）中检测到苯并[a]芘（B[a]P），最高达103 ng/g，但所有水平均低于根据欧洲消费品法规（欧盟委员会法规（EU）2018/1513）规定的B[a]P阈值1000 ng/g。结果表明，消防个人防护装备可以有效屏蔽皮肤接触致癌物质。因此，织物碎片中所有测得的PAH浓度均低于欧盟消费品中允许的每种PAH 1000 ng/g的阈值，这些消费品是指穿在皮肤上的衣物。然而，在灭火任务期间，个人皮肤暴露无法完全避免。在个人防护装备下穿着用于全身剂量测定的内衣、手套、袜子和头套，有助于评估有害物质是否穿透消防员的个人防护装备
