Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)–part 2: water sampling and analysis
Building and factory fires pose a great risk to human and environmental health, due to the release of hazardous by-products of combustion. These hazardous compounds can dissipate into the environment through fire water run-off, and the impact can be immediate or chronic. Current laboratory-based met...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Forensic Sciences Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2019.1662648 |
| _version_ | 1827839108612882432 |
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| author | Rylee Lam Chris Lennard Graham Kingsland Paul Johnstone Andrew Symons Laura Wythes Jeremy Fewtrell David O’Brien Val Spikmans |
| author_facet | Rylee Lam Chris Lennard Graham Kingsland Paul Johnstone Andrew Symons Laura Wythes Jeremy Fewtrell David O’Brien Val Spikmans |
| author_sort | Rylee Lam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Building and factory fires pose a great risk to human and environmental health, due to the release of hazardous by-products of combustion. These hazardous compounds can dissipate into the environment through fire water run-off, and the impact can be immediate or chronic. Current laboratory-based methods do not report hazardous compounds released from a fire scene at the time and location of the event. Reporting of results is often delayed due to the complexities and logistics of laboratory-based sampling and analysis. These delays pose a risk to the health and wellbeing of the environment and exposed community. Recent developments in person-portable instrumentation have the potential to provide rapid analysis of samples in the field. A portable gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was evaluated for the on-site analysis of water samples for the identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes. The portable GC-MS was capable of detecting and identifying a range of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in fire water run-off, and can be used in conjunction with conventional laboratory analysis methods for a comprehensive understanding of hazardous organics released at fire scenes. Deployment of this portable instrumentation provides first responders with a rapid, on-site screening tool to appropriately manage the run-off water from firefighting activities. This ensures that environmental and human health is proactively protected. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:16:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dfdf59b6c21b49b9840debac22f915c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2096-1790 2471-1411 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:16:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Sciences Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-dfdf59b6c21b49b9840debac22f915c42023-09-02T22:48:31ZengOxford University PressForensic Sciences Research2096-17902471-14112020-04-015215016410.1080/20961790.2019.16626481662648Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)–part 2: water sampling and analysisRylee Lam0Chris Lennard1Graham Kingsland2Paul Johnstone3Andrew Symons4Laura Wythes5Jeremy Fewtrell6David O’Brien7Val Spikmans8Western Sydney UniversityWestern Sydney UniversityFire Investigation and Research Unit, Fire & Rescue NSWOperations Capability Directorate, Fire & Rescue NSWEnvironment Protection Science Branch, Office of Environment and HeritageHazardous Incidents and Environmental Health Branch, New South Wales Environment Protection AuthorityStrategic Capability, Fire & Rescue NSWFire Investigation and Research Unit, Fire & Rescue NSWWestern Sydney UniversityBuilding and factory fires pose a great risk to human and environmental health, due to the release of hazardous by-products of combustion. These hazardous compounds can dissipate into the environment through fire water run-off, and the impact can be immediate or chronic. Current laboratory-based methods do not report hazardous compounds released from a fire scene at the time and location of the event. Reporting of results is often delayed due to the complexities and logistics of laboratory-based sampling and analysis. These delays pose a risk to the health and wellbeing of the environment and exposed community. Recent developments in person-portable instrumentation have the potential to provide rapid analysis of samples in the field. A portable gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was evaluated for the on-site analysis of water samples for the identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes. The portable GC-MS was capable of detecting and identifying a range of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in fire water run-off, and can be used in conjunction with conventional laboratory analysis methods for a comprehensive understanding of hazardous organics released at fire scenes. Deployment of this portable instrumentation provides first responders with a rapid, on-site screening tool to appropriately manage the run-off water from firefighting activities. This ensures that environmental and human health is proactively protected.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2019.1662648forensic sciencesportable gc-mswater pollutionfield analysisspmefirevocssvocs |
| spellingShingle | Rylee Lam Chris Lennard Graham Kingsland Paul Johnstone Andrew Symons Laura Wythes Jeremy Fewtrell David O’Brien Val Spikmans Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)–part 2: water sampling and analysis Forensic Sciences Research forensic sciences portable gc-ms water pollution field analysis spme fire vocs svocs |
| title | Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)–part 2: water sampling and analysis |
| title_full | Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)–part 2: water sampling and analysis |
| title_fullStr | Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)–part 2: water sampling and analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)–part 2: water sampling and analysis |
| title_short | Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)–part 2: water sampling and analysis |
| title_sort | rapid on site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person portable gas chromatography mass spectrometry gc ms part 2 water sampling and analysis |
| topic | forensic sciences portable gc-ms water pollution field analysis spme fire vocs svocs |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2019.1662648 |
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