Characterizing Firefighter Exposure to PAHs Using Silicone Wristbands

Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center 

Firefighters have consistently faced elevated health risks due to complex smoke and combustion by-products. Among these, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been recognized as a critical group of contaminants with strong links to cancer and other chronic outcomes. However, routine monitoring of firefighter exposure has often been limited to short-term air sampling or biomonitoring after incidents, leaving major gaps in understanding cumulative exposure. To address this challenge, we applied silicone wristbands as unobtrusive personal samplers to characterize firefighter PAH exposure during duty and station contexts. This approach integrated exposure over time, minimized interference with emergency activities, and provided a practical tool for capturing real-world conditions. By focusing on PAHs, the study has strengthened the evidence base for occupational exposure assessment and highlighted a pathway for developing more effective intervention and control strategies in the fire service.

Zih-Han Lin, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TAIWAN
Hui-Yu Chen, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TAIWAN
Meng-Hsuan Wu, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TAIWAN
 

NSTC 114-2621-M-002-012 

Exposure Assessment

Gas and vapor detection