Author Identifier
Kiam Padamsey: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5151-5600
Adelle Liebenberg: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0467-9412
Ruth Wallace: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5392-5195
Jacques Oosthuizen: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1589-5957
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Fire
Volume
7
Issue
9
Publisher
MDPI
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
72735
Funders
Natural Hazards Research Australia / Australian Government Research Training Program
Abstract
Evidence has previously shown that outer tunics (turnout coats) worn by firefighters at structural fires are contaminated with harmful chemicals which subsequently off-gas from the material. However, there is limited research on whether this phenomenon extends to wildland firefighter uniforms. This pilot study aimed to explore if the tunics of volunteer bushfire and forestry firefighters in Western Australia off-gas any contaminants after exposure to prescribed burns or bushfires, and whether there is a need to explore this further. Nine tunics were collected from firefighters following nine bushfire and prescribed burn events, with a set of unused tunics serving as a control. Chemical analysis was performed on these tunics to assess levels of acrolein, benzene, formaldehyde, and sulphur dioxide contamination. The assessment involved measuring chemical off-gassing over a 12 h period using infrared spectrometry. Tunics worn by firefighters appear to adsorb acrolein, benzene, formaldehyde, and sulphur dioxide from bushfire smoke and these contaminants are emitted from firefighting tunics following contamination at elevated concentrations. Further investigation of this research with a larger study sample will be beneficial to understand this phenomenon better and to determine the full extent and range of chemical contaminants absorbed by all firefighter clothing.
DOI
10.3390/fire7090321
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Padamsey, K., Liebenberg, A., Wallace, R., & Oosthuizen, J. (2024). Preliminary assessment of tunic off-gassing after wildland firefighting exposure. Fire, 7(9), 321. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7090321