PAH and Toxic Contaminant Absorption in Clothing
topic
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including naphthalene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene along with benzene, heavy metals, and isocyanates from fire combustion products absorb into outer shell fabrics during firefighting operations, with contamination penetrating through the outer shell into moisture barrier and thermal liner layers and remaining after standard laundering, with dermal absorption occurring through direct skin contact with contaminated liner fabrics during and after fireground operations.
Role
Establishes the chemical exposure pathway from fire combustion product deposition on clothing to dermal absorption that drives elevated cancer incidence in firefighters, with understanding of the specific contaminant types, their absorption kinetics in different fabric systems, and the factors governing dermal transfer being fundamental to developing effective contamination management strategies and evaluating the protective benefit of different clothing material and decontamination approaches.