Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in smoke exposure of firefighters during prescribed burning in the Mediterranean region

Prescribed fires can be used as a forest management tool to reduce the severity of wildfires. Thus, over prolonged and repeated periods, firefighters are exposed to toxic air contaminants. This work consisted in collecting and analysing smoke released by typical Mediterranean vegetation during prescribed burning. Sampling was performed at five active zones on the island of Corsica. Seventy‐nine compounds were identified: volatile organic compounds and semi‐volatile organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Depending on exposure levels, the toxins present in smoke may cause short‐term or long‐term damage to firefighters’ health. The dangerous compounds emitted, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, were quantified. Their concentrations varied as a function of the study site. These variations were due to the intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of the fire site (e.g. plant species, fire intensity and wind). Our results show that benzene concentration is high during prescribed burning, close to the exposure limit value or short‐term exposure limit. Benzene can be considered as a toxicity tracer for prescribed burning because its concentration was above the exposure limit value at all the study sites. The authors suggest that respirators should be used to protect staff during prescribed burning operations.

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Quantification of the volatile organic compounds in the smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with the occupational exposure limits

Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/nhessd-1-6499-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 (6) ◽

pp. 6499-6520

Author(s):

T. Barboni ◽

P.-A. Santoni

Keyword(s):

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Prescribed Burning ◽

Smoke Inhalation ◽

Exposure Limits ◽

Short Term ◽

Exposure Limit ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Very High

Abstract. Prescribed burning represents a serious threat to the personnel fighting fires because of smoke inhalation. This study aims to increase the knowledge about foresters exposure to the prescribed burning smoke by focusing on exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We initially assessed the methodology for smoke sampling. Then, we identified potentially dangerous molecules among the VOCs identified at 4 prescribed burning sites located around Corsica. The values measured were very high, exceeding the exposure limits, particularly for benzene, phenol, and furfural, whose concentrations were above short-term exposure limit (STEL) values. In conclusion, obvious but necessary recommendations were made for the protection of the personnel involved in fighting fires on a professional basis.

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Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-14-1049-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 1049-1057 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

E. Romagnoli ◽

T. Barboni ◽

P.-A. Santoni ◽

N. Chiaramonti

Keyword(s):

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Prescribed Burning ◽

The United States ◽

Smoke Inhalation ◽

Exposure Limits ◽

Short Term ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Measured Mass

Abstract. Prescribed burning represents a serious threat to personnel fighting fires due to smoke inhalation. The aim of this study was to investigate exposure by foresters to smoke from prescribed burning, focusing on exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The methodology for smoke sampling was first evaluated. Potentially dangerous compounds were identified among the VOCs emitted by smoke fires at four prescribed burning plots located around Corsica. The measured mass concentrations for several toxic VOCs were generally higher than those measured in previous studies due to the experimental framework (short sampling distance between the foresters and the flame, low combustion, wet vegetation). In particular, benzene, phenol and furfural exceeded the legal short-term exposure limits published in Europe and/or the United States. Other VOCs such as toluene, ethybenzene or styrene remained below the exposure limits. In conclusion, clear and necessary recommendations were made for protection of personnel involved in fighting fires.

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Short-term exposure assessment to particulate matter and total volatile organic compounds in indoor air during cooking Ethiopian sauces (Wot) using electricity, kerosene and charcoal fuels

Indoor and Built Environment ◽

10.1177/1420326x19836453 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (8) ◽

pp. 1140-1154 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Asamene Embiale ◽

Feleke Zewge ◽

Bhagwan Singh Chandravanshi ◽

Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Exposure Assessment ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Total Volatile ◽

Short Term ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Total Volatile Organic Compounds

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Oxidative Stress Levels of Kunming Mice Following Short-Term Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Mixture

Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances ◽

10.3923/javaa.2012.3417.3426 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 11 (18) ◽

pp. 3417-3426 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yihe Jin ◽

Fan Wang ◽

Chonglei Li ◽

Wei Liu

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Short Term ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Stress Levels

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Spatial Uncertainty in Modeling Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Response to the Application of Consumer Spray Products

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105334 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5334

Author(s):

Yerin Jung ◽

Yoonsub Kim ◽

Hwi-Soo Seol ◽

Jong-Hyeon Lee ◽

Jung-Hwan Kwon

Keyword(s):

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Inhalation Exposure ◽

Spatial Uncertainty ◽

Homogeneous Distribution ◽

Short Term ◽

Atmospheric Concentration ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Volatile Organic

(1) Background: Mathematical exposure modeling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in consumer spray products mostly assumes instantaneous mixing in a room. This well-mixed assumption may result in the uncertainty of exposure estimation in terms of spatial resolution. As the inhalation exposure to chemicals from consumer spray products may depend on the spatial heterogeneity, the degree of uncertainty of a well-mixed assumption should be evaluated under specific exposure scenarios. (2) Methods: A room for simulation was divided into eight compartments to simulate inhalation exposure to an ethanol trigger and a propellant product. Real-time measurements of the atmospheric concentration in a room-sized chamber by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry were compared with mathematical modeling to evaluate the non-homogeneous distribution of chemicals after their application. (3) Results: The well-mixed model overestimated short-term exposure, particularly under the trigger spray scenario. The uncertainty regarding the different chemical proportions in the trigger did not significantly vary in this study. (4) Conclusions: Inhalation exposure to aerosol generating sprays should consider the spatial uncertainty in terms of the estimation of short-term exposure.

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Short term exposure to volatile organic compounds enhances atopy patch test reaction*1

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.jaci.2003.12.169 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 113 (2) ◽

pp. S56-S57 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J HUSSMARP

Keyword(s):

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Patch Test ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Atopy Patch Test ◽

Short Term ◽

Test Reaction ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Volatile Organic

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Source-Specific Volatile Organic Compounds and Emergency Hospital Admissions for Cardiorespiratory Diseases

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176210 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6210

Author(s):

Jinjun Ran ◽

Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou ◽

Shengzhi Sun ◽

Lefei Han ◽

Shi Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Volatile Organic Compounds ◽

Organic Compounds ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Additive Models ◽

Short Term ◽

Emergency Hospital ◽

Emergency Hospital Admissions ◽

Household Products ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Gasoline Emissions

Knowledge gaps remain regarding the cardiorespiratory impacts of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for the general population. This study identified contributing sources to ambient VOCs and estimated the short-term effects of VOC apportioned sources on daily emergency hospital admissions for cardiorespiratory diseases in Hong Kong from 2011 to 2014. We estimated VOC source contributions using fourteen organic chemicals by positive matrix factorization. Then, we examined the associations between the short-term exposure to VOC apportioned sources and emergency hospital admissions for cause-specific cardiorespiratory diseases using generalized additive models with polynomial distributed lag models while controlling for meteorological and co-pollutant confounders. We identified six VOC sources: gasoline emissions, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) usage, aged VOCs, architectural paints, household products, and biogenic emissions. We found that increased emergency hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were positively linked to ambient VOCs from gasoline emissions (excess risk (ER%): 2.1%; 95% CI: 0.9% to 3.4%), architectural paints (ER%: 1.5%; 95% CI: 0.2% to 2.9%), and household products (ER%: 1.5%; 95% CI: 0.2% to 2.8%), but negatively associated with biogenic VOCs (ER%: −6.6%; 95% CI: −10.4% to −2.5%). Increased congestive heart failure admissions were positively related to VOCs from architectural paints and household products in cold seasons. This study suggested that source-specific VOCs might trigger the exacerbation of cardiorespiratory diseases.

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