Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Part 1: Air sampling and analysis

Rylee Lam, Chris Lennard, Graham Kingsland, Paul Johnstone, Andrew Symons, Laura Wythes, Jeremy Fewtrell, David O'Brien, Val Spikmans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent advancements in person-portable instrumentation have resulted in the potential to provide contemporaneous results through rapid in-field analyses. These technologies can be utilised in emergency response scenarios to aid first responders in appropriate site risk assessment and management. Large metropolitan fires can pose great risk to human and environmental health due to the rapid release of hazardous compounds into the atmosphere. Understanding the release of these hazardous organics is critical in understanding their associated risks. Person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was evaluated for its potential to provide rapid on-site analysis for real-time monitoring of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes. Air sampling and analysis methods were developed for scenes of this nature. Controlled field testing demonstrated that the portable GC-MS was able to provide preliminary analytical results on the volatile organic compounds present in air samples collected from both active and extinguished fires. In-field results were confirmed using conventional laboratory-based air sampling and analysis procedures. The deployment of portable instrumentation could provide first responders with a rapid on-site assessment tool for the appropriate management of scenes, thereby ensuring environmental and human health is proactively protected and scientifically informed decisions are made for the provision of timely advice to stakeholders.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)134-149
Number of pages16
JournalForensic Sciences Research
Volume5
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Open Access - Access Right Statement

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords

  • air sampling apparatus
  • fires
  • gas chromatography
  • hazardous substances
  • volatile organic compounds

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