Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the firefighter workplace: The results from the first in Poland short-term measuring campaign

Abstract

The results of investigations into 15 ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at two Polish fire stations belonging to the National Fire Service are presented. At each station, on five different days, hydrocarbons were sampled simultaneously in the changing room, garage, and exterior of the station (in the atmospheric air). The indoor and outdoor diagnostic ratios and benzo(a)pyrene carcinogenicity equivalents were computed from the measured concentrations. The former indicated the combustion of various materials and fuels as the hydrocarbons source, the latter expressed the cumulative carcinogenic hazard from the hydrocarbon mixture. Naphthalene and acenaphthene had the greatest ambient concentrations at each site. The greatest summary concentrations of the 15 hydrocarbons occurred in the changing rooms.