Concentrations of Particulate Matter and PM-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Released during Combustion of Various Types of Materials and Possible Toxicological Potential of the Emissions: The Results of Preliminary Studies

Karolina Bralewska and Joanna Rakowska
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Karolina Bralewska: The Main School of Fire Service, Safety Engineering Institute, Slowackiego Street, 52/54, 01-629 Warsaw, Poland
Joanna Rakowska: The Main School of Fire Service, Safety Engineering Institute, Slowackiego Street, 52/54, 01-629 Warsaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and PM-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the combustion of various types of materials (i.e., oak, beech, and pine wood, polypropylene, polyurethane, paper, cotton, and oriented strand board (OSB)), and to compare the carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic potential of the emissions during the burning of these materials. Personal portable sampling devices were used to collect samples and to determine concentrations of PM 4 , total suspended particles (TSPs), PM-bound PAHs. The samples were collected during controlled fires under laboratory conditions. The highest PM concentration was recorded during the burning of polyurethane (PM 4 -1818 mg/m 3 , TSP-2800 mg/m 3 ), while the highest concentration of PAH mixture was recorded when burning OSB (628.5 µg/m 3 PM 4 -bound; 791.2 µg/m 3 TSP-bound PAHs). Thus, the highest carcinogenic (85.5 µg/m 3 ), mutagenic (68.2 µg/m 3 ) and toxic equivalents (26.4 ng/m 3 ) of the PAH mixture were noted during OSB combustion. Carcinogenic potential (CP) of PAH group was determined mainly by phenanthrene (CP on average 21.6%) and pyrene concentrations (13.3%). The results of the study express possible adverse effects from PM-bound PAHs released during combustion for firefighters and other people staying near a fire site.

Keywords: particulate matter; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; combustion products; fire smoke (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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