This research measured heavy metals, specifically cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead, on the surface of the firefighters bunker gear. Despite the fact that many studies have been conducted regarding the presence of organics in smoke emissions from structure fires, very few studies have investigated the extent of heavy metal emissions found during a structure fire. Using a wipe test procedure samples were collected from firefighters following a structure fire and analyzed for metals. Three locations on the bunker gear were used, the knee, elbow, and chest areas. The results showed that varying amounts of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead adhere to a firefighter's bunker gear in all locations following a fire. Some lead concentrations found on firefighters bunker gear exceeded the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards for clearance in residential homes. There are no surface standards for cadmium, chromium, and copper however, if the same levels where found using air monitoring they could potentially exceed ACGIH recommendations and NIOSH standards for an 8 hour time weighted average requiring continuous protection.
","abstract_html":"<p>This research measured heavy metals, specifically cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead, on the surface of the firefighters bunker gear. Despite the fact that many studies have been conducted regarding the presence of organics in smoke emissions from structure fires, very few studies have investigated the extent of heavy metal emissions found during a structure fire. Using a wipe test procedure samples were collected from firefighters following a structure fire and analyzed for metals. Three locations on the bunker gear were used, the knee, elbow, and chest areas. The results showed that varying amounts of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead adhere to a firefighter's bunker gear in all locations following a fire. Some lead concentrations found on firefighters bunker gear exceeded the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards for clearance in residential homes. There are no surface standards for cadmium, chromium, and copper however, if the same levels where found using air monitoring they could potentially exceed ACGIH recommendations and NIOSH standards for an 8 hour time weighted average requiring continuous protection. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gagas, Donald F."],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Safety, Security, and Emergency Management","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:25Z","subjects":["Exposure","Hazardous Substances","Metals","Particulates","Structure Fires","Toxic","Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene","Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2015 Donald F. Gagas"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/261","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Gagas, Donald F."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Safety, Security, and Emergency Management"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Exposure","Hazardous Substances","Metals","Particulates","Structure Fires","Toxic","Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene","Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2015 Donald F. Gagas"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/261"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This research measured heavy metals, specifically cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead, on the surface of the firefighters bunker gear. Despite the fact that many studies have been conducted regarding the presence of organics in smoke emissions from structure fires, very few studies have investigated the extent of heavy metal emissions found during a structure fire. Using a wipe test procedure samples were collected from firefighters following a structure fire and analyzed for metals. Three locations on the bunker gear were used, the knee, elbow, and chest areas. The results showed that varying amounts of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead adhere to a firefighter's bunker gear in all locations following a fire. Some lead concentrations found on firefighters bunker gear exceeded the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards for clearance in residential homes. There are no surface standards for cadmium, chromium, and copper however, if the same levels where found using air monitoring they could potentially exceed ACGIH recommendations and NIOSH standards for an 8 hour time weighted average requiring continuous protection.
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"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/261"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2015 Donald F. Gagas"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Exposure","Hazardous Substances","Metals","Particulates","Structure Fires","Toxic","Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene","Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health"],"dc:title":["Characterization of Contaminants on Firefighter\"s Protective Equipment A Firefighter's Potential Exposure to Heavy Metals During a Structure Fire"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Safety, Security, and Emergency Management"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:25Z"}