Occupational exposure of firefighters to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in non-fire work environments

This work aims to characterize personal exposure of firefighters to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in non-fire work environments (fire stations), and assesses the respective risks. Eighteen PAHs (16 considered by USEPA as priority pollutants, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and benzo[j]fluoranthene) were monitored in breathing zones of workers at five Portuguese fire stations during a normal shift. The obtained levels of PAHs fulfilled all existent occupational exposure limits as well as air quality guidelines with total concentrations (ΣPAHs) in range of 46.8–155ngm−3. Light compounds (2–3 rings) were the most predominant congeners (74–96% of ΣPAHs) whereas PAHs with 5–6 rings accounted 3–9% of ΣPAHs. Fuel and biomass combustions, vehicular traffic emissions, and use of lubricant oils were identified as the main sources of PAHs exposure at the studied fire corporations. Incremental lifetime cancer risks were below the recommend USEPA guideline of 10−6 and thus negligible for all the studied subjects, but WHO health–based guideline level of 10−5 was exceeded (9–44 times) at all fire corporations. These results thus show that even during non-fire situations firefighters are exposed to PAHs at levels that may promote some adverse health outcomes; therefore the respective occupational exposures to these compounds should be carefully controlled. [Display omitted] •Firefighters' air exposures to PAHs in non-fire work settings were assessed.•Obtained PAH levels fulfilled occupational limits and air quality guidelines.•Congeners with 2–3 rings were the predominant contributors to total PAHs levels.•Exposure sources were mixed ones (both pyrogenic and petrogenic origin).•Incremental lifetime cancer risks exceeded WHO–based guideline at all fire houses.