What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to understand the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) firefighters are exposed to during and after fires.

PAH exposure and associated health risks can be high at a fire site both during fire and long after the fire is extinguished

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Observational study measures PAH exposure during firefighting and post-fire conditions, suggesting health risk mitigation strategies.

This study aims to understand the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) firefighters are exposed to during and after fires.
Conducted two measurement campaigns at a firefighter training facility in Sweden.
Used polyurethane foam passive air samplers to measure PAH concentrations.
Measured exposures during firefighting and inside burned-out structures post-fire.
Firefighters experienced the highest PAH exposure ranging from 8,300 to 760,000 ng m−3.
Post-fire workers and observers had significantly lower exposures of 120 to 3,600 ng m−3 and 1,600 to 11,000 ng m−3, respectively.
PAH concentrations in burned-out sheds remained elevated for weeks, peaking at 3,000 ng m−3 one week after extinguishing.

Strandberg et al. (2026) studied this question.

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