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Evaluation of an Ozone Chamber as a Routine Method to Decontaminate Firefighters’ PPE

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  • Marcella A. de Melo Lucena

    (BSTR, Fundamental Chemistry Department, Federal University of Pernambuco-UFPE, Avenida Prof. Luiz Freire, S/N, CDU, Recife 50740-540, Brazil)

  • Félix Zapata

    (Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación CINQUIFOR, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
    Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

  • Filipe Gabriel M. Mauricio

    (LIMA, Chemistry Institute, University of Brasilia-UNB, Brasilia 70904-970, Brazil)

  • Fernando E. Ortega-Ojeda

    (Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación CINQUIFOR, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
    Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Física y Matemáticas, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain)

  • M. Gloria Quintanilla-López

    (Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Orgánica y Química Inorgánica, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain)

  • Ingrid Távora Weber

    (LIMA, Chemistry Institute, University of Brasilia-UNB, Brasilia 70904-970, Brazil)

  • Gemma Montalvo

    (Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación CINQUIFOR, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain)

Abstract

Ozone chambers have emerged as an alternative method to decontaminate firefighters’ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from toxic fire residues. This work evaluated the efficiency of using an ozone chamber to clean firefighters’ PPE. This was achieved by studying the degradation of pyrene and 9-methylanthracene polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The following experiments were performed: (i) insufflating ozone into PAH solutions (homogeneous setup), and (ii) exposing pieces of PPE impregnated with the PAHs to an ozone atmosphere for up to one hour (heterogeneous setup). The ozonolysis products were assessed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), and Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis. In the homogeneous experiments, compounds of a higher molecular weight were produced due to the incorporation of oxygen into the PAH structures. Some of these new compounds included 4-oxapyren-5-one (m/z 220) and phenanthrene-4,5-dicarboxaldehyde (m/z 234) from pyrene; or 9-anthracenecarboxaldehyde (m/z 207) and hydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione (m/z 225) from 9-methylanthracene. In the heterogeneous experiments, a lower oxidation was revealed, since no byproducts were detected using FTIR and TLC, but only using MS. However, in both experiments, significant amounts of the original PAHs were still present even after one hour of ozone treatment. Thus, although some partial chemical degradation was observed, the remaining PAH and the new oxygenated-PAH compounds (equally or more toxic than the initial molecules) alerted us of the risks to firefighters’ health when using an ozone chamber as a unique decontamination method. These results do not prove the ozone-advertised efficiency of the ozone chambers for decontaminating (degrading the toxic combustion residues into innocuous compounds) firefighters’ PPE.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcella A. de Melo Lucena & Félix Zapata & Filipe Gabriel M. Mauricio & Fernando E. Ortega-Ojeda & M. Gloria Quintanilla-López & Ingrid Távora Weber & Gemma Montalvo, 2021. "Evaluation of an Ozone Chamber as a Routine Method to Decontaminate Firefighters’ PPE," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10587-:d:652746
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karolina Bralewska & Joanna Rakowska, 2020. "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 R," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Michelle A. Corbally & Mary R. Williams & Jessica N. Chappell & Michael E. Sigman, 2021. "Detecting Chemical Vapor Diffusion through Firefighter Turnout Gear," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-12, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. María José Aliaño-González & Gemma Montalvo & Carmen García-Ruiz & Marta Ferreiro-González & Miguel Palma, 2022. "Assessment of Volatile Compound Transference through Firefighter Turnout Gear," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Aline Marcelino Arouca & Victor Emmanuel Delfino Aleixo & Maurício Leite Vieira & Márcio Talhavini & Ingrid Távora Weber, 2022. "White Light-Photolysis for the Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Proximity Firefighting Protective Clothing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-16, August.

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    1. María José Aliaño-González & Gemma Montalvo & Carmen García-Ruiz & Marta Ferreiro-González & Miguel Palma, 2022. "Assessment of Volatile Compound Transference through Firefighter Turnout Gear," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.

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