Exposure and Risk Assessment of Korean Firefighters to PBDEs and PAHs via Fire Vehicle Dust and Personal Protective Equipment

초록

In this study, the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were characterized in firefighters' personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e., jackets, pants, hoods, and gloves) and vehicle dust wipe samples to assess the exposure and potential risk of firefighters to these combustion-related toxic pollutants. The mean levels of n-ary sumation PBDEs in the fire vehicle dust samples (778 and 449 pg/cm2 for pump trucks and command cars, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the private vehicles (31.2 pg/cm2) (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05), which was similar to the n-ary sumation PAH levels (521, 185, and 46.8 pg/cm2 for pump trucks, command cars, and private vehicles, respectively). In the case of firefighters' PPE, the levels of n-ary sumation PBDEs and n-ary sumation PAHs in used jackets and pants were found to be, respectively, 70-to 2242-folds and 11-to 265-folds higher than those in their unused counterparts. Biomass/petroleum combustion was found to be the main source of PAH contamination in fire vehicle dust and used PPE in the present study. Both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks via vehicle dust ingestion and dermal absorption from wearing of PPE were within permissible limits, although the relative risk evaluation showed that PAH/PBDE absorption via wearing of PPE could pose a higher likelihood of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks than the ingestion of pollutants via fire vehicle dust, warranting the need for appropriate management of firefighters' personal protective ensembles.

키워드