Health hazard evaluation report heta 92-0160-2360, City of Lancaster, Division of Fire, Lancaster, Ohio

In response to a request from the Division of Fire and the International Association of Firefighters Local 291, an evaluation was undertaken of exposure to diesel exhaust emissions in the engine houses of the City of Lancaster Division of Fire (SIC-9224) Lancaster, Ohio. At the time of the study, 77 uniformed employees and two secretaries worked in three engine houses. In Engine House 1, personal breathing zone (PBZ) samples ranged from 51.7 to 71.2 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/cu m) on the first night of sampling. PBZ samples in Engine House 2 ranged from 25.7 to 78.8 microg/cu m over two nights of sampling. Results for Engine House 3 ranged from 24.0 to 60.5 microg/cu m. With the exception of one measurement of 4.6 parts per million (ppm) of carbon-monoxide (CO) measured in the smoking room of Engine House 2, only trace CO was detected. Benzene solubles measured in Engine House 2 ranged from less than the limit of detection to 313 microg/cu m. The authors conclude that exhaust emissions containing diesel particulate may present a potential risk to firefighters. The authors recommend the use of engineering controls and work practices to reduce diesel exhaust emission exposures.