This study analyzed fire fighters' multiple exposures to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFCs) and 2-butoxyethanol found in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs). The study aimed to analyze PFC profiles in used foam, assess firefighter exposure, and evaluate eight AFFFs. Serum samples before and after training sessions found increased excretion of PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFOS in firefighters. Urinary samples also showed exposure to 2-butoxyethanol exceeding limits for the general population. The study concluded that firefighter exposure to PFCs was higher than the general population and increased during training. PFHxS showed the highest increase, making it

1. Fire Fighters’ multiple exposure to
perfluoroalkyl acids (PFC) and
2-butoxyethanol present in AFFFs
J. Laitinena, J. Koponenb, J. Koikkalainenc, H. Kivirantab
Finnish Institute of Occupational
Health, Neulaniementie 4,
FI-70101 Kuopio, Finland
a
National Institute for Health and
Welfare, Neulaniementie 4,
FI-70101 Kuopio, Finland
b
University of Eastern Finland,
Yliopistoranta 1,
FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
c
1
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2. Topics of presentation
1. Introduction
2. Aims of the study
3. Materials
4. Methods
5. Results
6. Conclusion
2
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3. 1. Introduction
•
Aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs)
are used to extinguish hydrocarbonfuel and chemical solvent fires
•
Its role is to cool the fire and to coat
the fuel, preventing its contact with
oxygen
•
This can happened with help of
fluorinated (F) and hydrocarbon
surfactants (S), they form a film of
aqueous solution covered from both
sides by monolayers of mixed
surfactants
3
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4. 1. Introduction
•
Most common components in AFFFs
concentrates are solvents (2-butoxyethanol or
2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol) which are required
for solubilisation of surfactants and as
anti-freesing agents, and foam stabilizers.
•
AFFFs might contain also fluorinated (PFAScompounds or fluorotelomers) and hydrocarbon
surfactants (sodium alkyl sulfate), which are
critical for the foaming and vapour-sealant
properties and stability of the foam.
•
Foams will also contain small amounts
chemicals that are used as buffers, corrosion
inhibitors, polymeric stabilisers, foam
thickeners and agents enhancing foam film
spreading
4
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5. 1. Introduction
•
PFC-compounds are bioaccumulative
and very persistent in the environment
•
PFC compound are also suspected to be
hormone disrupters
•
PFOA is suspected to be associated with
increased risk of chronic kidney disease
•
critical target organs of alkoxyalcohols
are CNS, liver, blood and also kidneys
5
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6. 2. Aims of the study
• To analyse the profile of PF compounds in used
foam
• To assess fire fighters’ exposure to foam
• To evaluate eight commercially available AFFFs from
the occupational and environmental hygienic
perspective
6
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7. 3. Materials
•
This study was carried out during the training of suppression of liquid
fire in aircraft accident simulation.
•
To the each trainings participated eight firefighters and their smoke
diving session together took about 60 minutes in each training
•
Sthamex AFFF 3% -foam was used for suppression of jet propulsion
fuel fire
•
Foam contained perfluorinated surfactants and as anti-freezing agents
was used 2-butoxyethanol
•
The profile of PFAS- compounds was confirmed with LC-MS/MS –
analyses from foam liquid
•
Fire fighters’ hobbies, dietary intake, work history was recorded by
questionnaire designed by National Institute for Health and Health – www.ttl.fi
Welfare.
© Finnish Institute of Occupational
7

8. 3. Materials
•
Suppression of jet
propulsion fuel fire
•
Rescuing survivals from
crashed airplane
•
Cleaning environment
after training
•
Maintenance of used fire
hose, fire foam truck and
personal protective
equipments
8
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9. 4. Methods
•
Fire fighters’ exposure to PFC-compounds was evaluated by serum
samples taken before first training and two weeks after three training
sessions (3.3., 31.3. and 6.5.).
•
All samples were analysed by LC-MS/MS in National Institute for Health
and Welfare
•
Following PFAS-compounds was analysed from serum:
perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA),perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA),
perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA),perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA),
perfluorodekanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid(PFUnA),
perfluorododekanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorotridekaanoic acid (PFTrA),
perfluorotetradekanoic acid (PFTeA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid
(PFHxS), perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), perfluoro-octane
sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (PFDS)
9
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10. 4. Methods
•
•
•
•
Fire fighters’ exposure to 2-butoxyethanol was
analysed by biomonitoring of urinary 2butoxyacetic acid (BAA).
Urine samples was taken before exposure and
immediately after exposure. Analyses were done by
GC-FID in Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Eight commercially available AFFFs was
evaluated in literature study from the occupational
hygienic perspective.
Evaluated foams were:
• Conventional foams: Sthamex AFFF 3 % and
Afrofilm AFFF 3 %
• Alcohol resistant AR-foams: Moussol APS 3 %
and Arctic foam 602 ATC 3-6 %
• PFAS-free and AR-foams: Re-healing foam
RF3X6 ATC 3-6 % and Bio Ex Ecopol 3X3//3X6
• Training foam: Solberg TF5X
10 © Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
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11. 5. Results
–Profile of PFC -compounds in Sthamex AFFF 3
% -liquid and in fire fighters’ serum
•
•
11
We able to find from fire fighters’
serum four of the seven most
important PFAS-compounds in
Sthamex AFFF -liquid
During the surveillence period the
proportion of perfluorohexane
sulfonic acid showed the highest
increase in fire fighters’ serum
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12. 5. RESULTS:
Fire fighters’ average excretion of
PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS and PFOS
Increase 7.2 %
Increase 10 %
Increase 19 %
Increase 4.7 %
12
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13. 5. RESULTS
-Fire fighters’ exposure to 2-butoxyethanol
•
The average
concentrations of 2butoxyacetic acid
exceeded the reference
limit of the general
population in second
and third training
sessions.
•
This might indicate
that dermal exposure
play certain role in fire
fighters’ training in
suppression of jet
propulsion fuel fire
13
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14. 5. RESULTS
-Effects of dietary upatake, hobbies and
work history to PFC –excretion, the best fire
fighting foam for future needs
•
We did not able to find correlation between measured serum PFAS
concentrations and recorded information about fire fighters’
dietary intake, hobbies and work history
•
The best fire fighting foam was Bio Ex Ecopol 3X3//3X6.
• It has enough low freesing point, so it working also in cold
environments.
• It’s surfactants were PFC-free
• It fulfilled future requirements of biofuels concerning alcohol
resistance
14
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15. 6. CONCLUSIONS
•
Fire fighters’ average excretion levels of PFAS compounds were
higher than average excretion of general population in
Finland (PFOS 7 ng/ml, PFOA 3 ng/ml, PFHxS 1 ng/ml and
PFNA 1 ng/ml.)
•
The excretion of PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and PFNA increased during
the training session, which reflects slight accumulation of
PFAS-compounds during training period.
•
The excretion of PFHxS showed the highest increase
during training sessions. So it seemed to be the best indicator
of exposure to PHAS-compounds during usage of Sthamex –
foam.
•
Fire fighters’ average excretion of 2-butoxyacetic acid exceeded
the limit for general population, which also indicate slight
exposure to 2-butoxyethanol
•
In the selection of AFFFs for liquid fires, non-fluorine based
products should be favoured in the future. Alcohol resistance
properties of foams must also be taken into account due to the
increased use of biofuels. Bio Ex Ecopol 3X3//3X6 fulfilled all
these requirements
15 © Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
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16. Thank you for your attention !
Thank you for your attention !
16 © Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
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