Exposures to polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contribute to cancer in the fire service. Fire investigators are involved in evaluations of post-fire scenes. In the US, it is estimated that there are up to 9000 fire investigators, compared to approximately 1.1 million total firefighting personnel. This exploratory study contributes initial evidence of PAH exposures sustained by this understudied group using worn silicone passive samplers. Evaluate PAH exposures sustained by fire investigators at post-fire scenes using worn silicone passive samplers. Assess explanatory factors and health risks of PAH exposure at post-fire scenes. As part of a cross-sectional study design, silicone wristbands were distributed to 16 North Carolina fire investigators, including eight public, seven private, and one public and private. Wristbands were worn during 46 post-fire scene investigations. Fire investigators completed pre- and post-surveys providing sociodemographic, occupational, and post-fire scene characteristics. Solvent extracts from wristbands were analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results were used to estimate vapor-phase PAH concentration in the air at post-fire scenes. Fire investigations lasted an average of 148 minutes, standard deviation ± 93 minutes. A significant positive correlation (r=0.455, p<.001) was found between investigation duration and PAH concentrations on wristbands. Significantly greater time-normalized PAH exposures (p=0.039) were observed for investigations of newer post-fire scenes compared to older post-fire scenes. Regulatory airborne PAH exposure limits were exceeded in six investigations, based on exposure to estimated vapor-phase PAH concentrations in the air at post-fire scenes. Higher levels of off-gassing and suspended particulates at younger post-fire scenes may explain greater PAH exposure. Weaker correlations are found between wristband PAH concentration and investigation duration at older post-fire scenes, suggesting reduction of off-gassing PAHs over time. Exceedances of regulatory PAH limits indicate a need for protection against vapor-phase contaminants, especially at more recent post-fire scenes.

中文翻译：

---

使用硅胶腕带表征火灾调查人员的多环芳烃暴露情况


消防人员接触多环芳烃 (PAH) 会导致癌症。火灾调查人员参与火灾后场景的评估。在美国，据估计有多达 9000 名火灾调查员，而消防人员总数约为 110 万名。这项探索性研究提供了该研究小组使用磨损的硅胶被动采样器持续接触 PAH 的初步证据。使用磨损的硅胶被动采样器评估火灾调查人员在火灾后现场所承受的 PAH 暴露。评估火灾后现场多环芳烃暴露的解释因素和健康风险。作为横断面研究设计的一部分，硅胶腕带被分发给 16 名北卡罗来纳州火灾调查员，其中包括 8 名公共调查员、7 名私人调查员以及 1 名公共和私人调查员。在 46 次火灾后现场调查中，人们都佩戴了腕带。火灾调查人员完成了事前和事后调查，提供社会人口统计、职业和火灾后现场特征。通过气相色谱-质谱法 (GC-MS) 分析腕带中的溶剂提取物。结果用于估计火灾后现场空气中的气相多环芳烃浓度。火灾调查平均持续148分钟，标准偏差±93分钟。调查持续时间与腕带上的 PAH 浓度之间存在显着正相关（r=0.455，p<.001）。与较旧的火灾后场景相比，在新的火灾后场景的调查中观察到显着更高的时间归一化 PAH 暴露 (p=0.039)。根据火灾后现场空气中估计的气相多环芳烃浓度暴露情况，六项调查均超出了监管空气中多环芳烃暴露限值。 火灾后较年轻的现场废气和悬浮颗粒物含量较高，可能是多环芳烃暴露量较高的原因。在较旧的火灾后现场，腕带 PAH 浓度与调查持续时间之间的相关性较弱，表明随着时间的推移，排出的 PAH 会减少。 PAH 超出监管限值表明需要针对气相污染物采取防护措施，尤其是在最近的火灾现场。