Career fire hall exposures to diesel engine exhaust in Ontario, Canada

Firefighters are potentially exposed to many carcinogens while at fires. There is also concern that firefighters may be at risk of exposure to carcinogens at other times, such as exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DEE) within fire halls. The study objective was to evaluate DEE levels in career fire...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene 2020-01, Vol.17 (1), p.38-46
Main Authors: Chung, JuWon, Demers, Paul A., Kalenge, Sheila, Kirkham, Tracy L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollution, Indoor - statistics & numerical data
Carbon
Carcinogen
Carcinogens
Careers
Design
Diesel
Diesel engines
elemental carbon
Emergency response
Emergency vehicles
Exhaust emissions
exposure assessment
Exposure limits
Fire services
Firefighters
Firefighters - statistics & numerical data
Fires
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Humans
Inhalation Exposure - statistics & numerical data
Occupational exposure
Occupational Exposure - analysis
Occupational health
Ontario
Risk assessment
Seasonal variations
Summer
Vehicle Emissions - analysis
vehicle exhaust
Ventilation
Workplaces
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Summary:Firefighters are potentially exposed to many carcinogens while at fires. There is also concern that firefighters may be at risk of exposure to carcinogens at other times, such as exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DEE) within fire halls. The study objective was to evaluate DEE levels in career fire halls in Ontario, Canada. Twelve career fire halls from six cities across the province of Ontario, Canada were recruited. In each hall, 24-hr DEE area samples were collected using NIOSH method 5040 (modified) for respirable elemental carbon in three locations (vehicle bay, dormitory, living quarters). Sampling was conducted in both the summer and winter to assess seasonal differences. Factors that may influence DEE exposures were also collected including presence of local exhaust ventilation (LEV), emergency run data, vehicle bay design, and age of fire apparatus. LEV was assessed using a thermo-anemometer during both campaigns. Of the 69 samples collected, 16% had detectable elemental carbon concentrations, where all but one was taken within the vehicle bay (range:
ISSN:1545-9624
1545-9632
DOI:10.1080/15459624.2019.1691729