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Assessment of Volatile Compound Transference through Firefighter Turnout Gear

Author

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  • María José Aliaño-González

    (Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), University of Cadiz, The Wine and Food Research Institute IVAGRO, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain)

  • Gemma Montalvo

    (Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Ctra. Madrid–Barcelona km 33,600, 28871 Madrid, Spain
    Universidad de Alcalá, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Policiales (IUICP), Calle Libreros 27, 28801 Madrid, Spain)

  • Carmen García-Ruiz

    (Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Ctra. Madrid–Barcelona km 33,600, 28871 Madrid, Spain
    Universidad de Alcalá, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Policiales (IUICP), Calle Libreros 27, 28801 Madrid, Spain)

  • Marta Ferreiro-González

    (Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), University of Cadiz, The Wine and Food Research Institute IVAGRO, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain)

  • Miguel Palma

    (Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), University of Cadiz, The Wine and Food Research Institute IVAGRO, Puerto Real, 11510 Cadiz, Spain)

Abstract

There is high concern about the exposure of firefighters to toxic products or carcinogens resulting from combustion during fire interventions. Firefighter turnout gear is designed to protect against immediate fire hazards but not against chemical agents. Additionally, the decontamination of firefighter personal protective equipment remains unresolved. This study evaluated the feasibility of a screening method based on headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) in combination with chemometrics (cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and linear discriminant analysis) for the assessment of the transference of volatile compounds through turnout gear. To achieve this, firefighter turnout gears exposed to two different fire scenes (with different combustion materials) were directly analyzed. We obtained a spectral fingerprint for turnout gears that were both exposed and non-exposed to fire scenes. The results showed that (i): the contamination of the turnout gears is different depending on the type of fire loading; and (ii) it is possible to determine if the turnout gear is free of volatile compounds. Based on the latest results, we concluded that HS-GC-IMS can be applied as a screening technique to assess the quality of turnout gear prior to a new fire intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • María José Aliaño-González & Gemma Montalvo & Carmen García-Ruiz & Marta Ferreiro-González & Miguel Palma, 2022. "Assessment of Volatile Compound Transference through Firefighter Turnout Gear," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3663-:d:775023
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jooyeon Hwang & Chao Xu & Robert J. Agnew & Shari Clifton & Tara R. Malone, 2021. "Health Risks of Structural Firefighters from Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Michelle A. Corbally & Mary R. Williams & Jessica N. Chappell & Michael E. Sigman, 2021. "Detecting Chemical Vapor Diffusion through Firefighter Turnout Gear," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-12, April.
    3. Marcella A. de Melo Lucena & Félix Zapata & Filipe Gabriel M. Mauricio & Fernando E. Ortega-Ojeda & M. Gloria Quintanilla-López & Ingrid Távora Weber & Gemma Montalvo, 2021. "Evaluation of an Ozone Chamber as a Routine Method to Decontaminate Firefighters’ PPE," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Andrzej Polanczyk & Aleksandra Piechota-Polanczyk & Anna Dmochowska & Malgorzata Majder-Lopatka & Zdzislaw Salamonowicz, 2020. "Analysis of the Effectiveness of Decontamination Fluids on the Level of Biological Contamination of Firefighter Suits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-10, April.
    5. Elena Laroche & Sylvain L’Espérance, 2021. "Cancer Incidence and Mortality among Firefighters: An Overview of Epidemiologic Systematic Reviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-37, March.
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