Hazard Assessment of Indoor Air Quality in Fire Damaged Buildings

Abstract

The potential presence of indoor air pollutants in fire damaged buildings, stemming primarily from fire soot deposits, raises major concerns in relation to potential long-term health impacts on building occupants. Litigation claims often occur as a result of perceived ineffective remedial activities and the potential hazards of indoor air quality after the remediation is completed. This paper describes environmental remediation activities at an office building in the China Basin district of the city of San Francisco following a fire accident at a nearby wharf, which severely damaged the building. Based on an air quality sampling and chemical analysis program, a health-based hazard assessment was conducted to evaluate the health effects of indoor air quality on building occupants. The hazard assessment consisted of identification of indoor air pollutants and exposure pathways, and the quantification of exposure. The results of the exposure assessment are combined with chemical-specific toxicity information to characterize the potential health hazards at fire damaged buildings.