The American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) has reported a study on "Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Different Laundering Approaches For Decontaminating Structural Fire Fighting Protective Clothing". The study was supported by the U.S. Fire Administration and authored by Robert T. McCarthy its Chief of Fire Technical Programs Branch, together with several other members of the broader fire services. The purpose of the study was to ' ... characterize contaminants found in fire fighter turnout clothing, evaluate contaminant removal by selected cleaning practices, and determine effects of these cleaning practices on clothing." In this issue of The Fire Services Journal, we will look at why the study was conducted, the types of contamination identified and the hazards associated with contamination.

The Silent Killers

It is widely accepted that firefighting is dangerous business. Firefighters regularly find themselves in all sorts of precarious positions that make it easy to understand why they might be more prone to falls, strains and injuries related to exertion. What is less known however, is the true extent of the dangers which cannot be seen - the so called 'silent killers'. The toxic chemicals.

Thanks to modern measuring equipment and willing researchers, we are beginning to understand how firefighters are exposed to a wide range of deadly toxins. And we are gaining a better understanding of the effects of such exposures. Unfortunately, the impetus for this research is probably the significant rates of mortality and diseases firefighters experience which can only be explained by what was not seen.

McCarthy et al. hit the nail on the head in their interpretation of traditional firefighter mentality when they wrote "... soot-stained turnout clothing was perceived as a "badge of honor" among firefighters." There was, and to some extent still is, a certain pride associated with exiting a fire dirty. Firefighting isn't only dangerous, it is also very dirty work. Getting dirty means that we didn't avoid the toils of the work. This is not necessarily a misperception on the part of firefighters or even just stubborn pride. In fact, there are those among us who work harder than others and some who barely work at all. Because we all look the same at fires and name badges on turnouts have only been around for about 7 or 8 years, firefighters will sometimes identify those who work hardest (and thus those most trusted) by how dirty they get at fires.

What is certainly a misperception is that the dirt is harmless. Perhaps when firefighters were responding only to structural fires which, according to the report, release mostly carbon monoxide and simple hydrocarbons, this may have been true. However, "Structural fires have changed... because building materials have changed. Roofing, insulation, carpets, paints and other construction materials all contribute to a... diversity of chemical products found at fires. The increased use of plastics and other synthetic materials release different... products, many of them highly toxic or carcinogenic."

What are these chemicals? The report identifies a list of combustion products: carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, inorganic gases (hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides), acid gases (hydrochloric, sulfuric and nitric acid), organic acids (formic and acetic acid), aldehydes, chlorinated compounds (carbon tetrachloride and vinyl chloride), hydrocarbons (benzene), polynuclear aromatic compounds (PAN's), and metals (cadmium, chromium). And this list does not include site specific chemicals ranging from different household cleaning agents through polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) sometimes found at electrical fires to those which burn to form deadly dioxin compounds.

Primary Danger to Wearer

With respect to how they affect turnout clothing and ultimately the firefighter, chemicals seem to fall into three categories: vapors and liquids which penetrate and travel through the clothing, molecules which permeate and remain in the clothing, and visible solid particulate which remain on the clothing. The particulate of soot may actually be large enough to 'house' other chemicals, also entrapping them on or in the clothing. If these include melted plastic resins, a subsequent fire may cause them to melt and spread further throughout the turnout clothing, possibly to the wearer's skin. It should go without saying that any chemical which penetrates or permeates clothing represents a hazard to the wearer entirely dependent on the nature of the chemical.

As firefighters respond to other types of emergencies, it seems that the hazards are increased. Emergencies which include hazardous materials such as lead or asbestos increase the danger as these materials also come in contact with turnout clothing. Further, the dramatic increase in responses involving medical emergencies potentially exposes firefighters turnout clothing to just as hazardous biological pathogens including HIV and Hepatitis.

Secondary Danger to Wearer

According to the report, there is also a secondary effect of soiled contaminated turnout clothing beyond the hazards presented by the various chemicals. Firstly, turnouts which are contaminated enough with hydrocarbons will not effectively reflect radiant heat from fire. The repercussions to the wearer are greater heat within the turnout and increased possibility of heat stress - a problem already associated with modern turnout clothing. Secondly, turnouts sufficiently soiled with hydrocarbons will tend to conduct electricity better. And lastly, turnouts soiled with certain contaminants such as oil, grease, etc. are more likely to ignite.

Danger to Turnout Clothing

When expressed in terms of cost efficiency to a turnout clothing replacement program, soiled turnouts also represent a liability to the employer fire service. For one of the same reasons we clean our own personal clothing, we should be giving greater consideration to the cleanliness of our turnouts. In addition to any hazard to the wearer, contamination can also be detrimental to the turnout clothing. In the report, five ways were identified in which turnout clothing itself was adversely affected by contaminants. These included that, fabrics can be weakened and may tear more easily, thread or seam sealing tape may become loose, turnouts may become less water repellent, reflective trims may become less visible and, clothing or equipment hardware may corrode.

Conclusion

The first lesson learned from this report has been some time coming. We have placed too great a reliance on our turnout clothing to protect our health and safety without, in turn, giving it the attention it needs and deserves to fulfill this requirement effectively. While most standard operating procedures would require us to check our SCBA's, defibrillators, ventilators, and even the oil in our apparatus, my suspicion is that many of us probably lack sufficient procedures and guidelines to counter the dangers of contaminated turnout clothing as discussed above. Fire services should require regular cleaning, maintenance and decontamination procedures which are as effective and thorough as they can and should be.

There is a dangerous irony in firefighters returning to station with contaminated clothing, showering to rid themselves of the hazardous contaminants of fire and putting the same turnouts on when the next alarm rings. Consider further if the alarm does not ring and the firefighter places the turnouts in a locker, the back of their car or beside other turnout clothing only to be used on the next shift. If I have to thoroughly clean an SCBA after every fire and a ventilator or defibrillator after every use, why would I not make similar provision for turnout clothing?

As a first precaution we should immediately eliminate the practice, wherever it may still go on, of taking our 'bunker gear' home for it to be cleaned in the family washing machine. Even putting our contaminated gear in the back of the car to transport it should cease unless provision is made to put it into one of the many transport bags that are now available - remembering of course, that the bag must then also be regularly cleaned.

But most importantly, we must consider the research and begin to make provision for more effective cleaning and decontamination. It appears that we can do this both in the name of firefighter health and safety and cost benefit to the employer.

In the next issue of The Fire Services Journal, we will examine the report by McCarthy et al. more closely by looking at the results of the various cleaning and decontamination processes which they studied to determine the best means for cleaning, decontaminating and maintaining our turnout clothing.