Inhalation exposure to particulate matter in a work environment of firefighters

¹ The Main School of Fire Service, Faculty of Civil Safety Engineering, 52/54 Slowackiego St., 01-629 Warsaw, Poland
² The Main School of Fire Service, Faculty of Fire Safety Engineering, 52/54 Slowackiego St., 01-629 Warsaw, Poland

^* Corresponding author: jrakowska@sgsp.edu.pl

Abstract

The paper presents the results of research into the concentration of respirable and total particulate matter (PM) in a work environment of firefighters. Measurements were carried out from September 2017 to October 2017 during official capacity of firefighters, i.e. during firefighting, liquidation of other local hazards. The PM concentration was examined by the gravimetric method. For this purpose, two GilAir 3 aspirators and glass fibre filters were used. During the whole duty, the samplers were placed in the pockets of the uniform, while the measuring heads were harnessed to the collar of the uniform. The deposited mass of PM in the different regions of the respiratory tract was calculated using the Eulerian Multiple Path Particle Dosimetry model. Especially high PM concentrations were noted during firefighting, The PM deposits in the head, the trachea and bronchiolar and pulmonary alveolar regions were different depending on the action the firemen had to deal with.