Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits
Prescribed burning represents a serious threat to personnel fighting fires due to smoke inhalation. The aim of this study was to investigate exposure by foresters to smoke from prescribed burning, focusing on exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The methodology for smoke sampling was first...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2014-05-01
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| Series: | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1049/2014/nhess-14-1049-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1828170655499026432 |
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| author | E. Romagnoli T. Barboni P.-A. Santoni N. Chiaramonti |
| author_facet | E. Romagnoli T. Barboni P.-A. Santoni N. Chiaramonti |
| author_sort | E. Romagnoli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Prescribed burning represents a serious threat to personnel fighting fires
due to smoke inhalation. The aim of this study was to investigate exposure by
foresters to smoke from prescribed burning, focusing on exposure to volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). The methodology for smoke sampling was first
evaluated. Potentially dangerous compounds were identified among the VOCs
emitted by smoke fires at four prescribed burning plots located around
Corsica. The measured mass concentrations for several toxic VOCs were
generally higher than those measured in previous studies due to the
experimental framework (short sampling distance between the foresters and the
flame, low combustion, wet vegetation). In particular, benzene, phenol and
furfural exceeded the legal short-term exposure limits published in Europe
and/or the United States. Other VOCs such as toluene, ethybenzene or styrene
remained below the exposure limits. In conclusion, clear and necessary
recommendations were made for protection of personnel involved in fighting
fires. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:15:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-23bafcc6539c4ee08d9ad94aa0ad6089 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1561-8633 1684-9981 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:15:04Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-23bafcc6539c4ee08d9ad94aa0ad60892022-12-22T03:50:13ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812014-05-011451049105710.5194/nhess-14-1049-2014Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limitsE. Romagnoli0T. Barboni1P.-A. Santoni2N. Chiaramonti3SPE UMR 6134 CNRS, University of Corsica, Campus Grimaldi, BP 52, 20250 Corte, FranceSPE UMR 6134 CNRS, University of Corsica, Campus Grimaldi, BP 52, 20250 Corte, FranceSPE UMR 6134 CNRS, University of Corsica, Campus Grimaldi, BP 52, 20250 Corte, FranceSPE UMR 6134 CNRS, University of Corsica, Campus Grimaldi, BP 52, 20250 Corte, FrancePrescribed burning represents a serious threat to personnel fighting fires due to smoke inhalation. The aim of this study was to investigate exposure by foresters to smoke from prescribed burning, focusing on exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The methodology for smoke sampling was first evaluated. Potentially dangerous compounds were identified among the VOCs emitted by smoke fires at four prescribed burning plots located around Corsica. The measured mass concentrations for several toxic VOCs were generally higher than those measured in previous studies due to the experimental framework (short sampling distance between the foresters and the flame, low combustion, wet vegetation). In particular, benzene, phenol and furfural exceeded the legal short-term exposure limits published in Europe and/or the United States. Other VOCs such as toluene, ethybenzene or styrene remained below the exposure limits. In conclusion, clear and necessary recommendations were made for protection of personnel involved in fighting fires.http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1049/2014/nhess-14-1049-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | E. Romagnoli T. Barboni P.-A. Santoni N. Chiaramonti Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| title | Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits |
| title_full | Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits |
| title_fullStr | Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits |
| title_short | Quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits |
| title_sort | quantification of volatile organic compounds in smoke from prescribed burning and comparison with occupational exposure limits |
| url | http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1049/2014/nhess-14-1049-2014.pdf |
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