The ecotoxicity and mutagenicity of fire water runoff from small-scale furnishing materials fire tests

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the ecotoxicity and mutagenicity of fire water runoff generated during fire operations in a closed non-production facility (apartment, house, warehouse, etc.). For this purpose, insulation and furnishing materials used, especially in houses and apartments, including wood (pine and oak), chipboard, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and polyurethane foam, were burned. Experiments involving burning one of the selected materials each time and extinguishing the resulting fire with a specific amount of water were conducted in a test chamber equipped with systems for continuous monitoring of the process, including continuous measurement of the weight of the sample and mechanical smoke extraction systems. The fire water runoff samples were tested for ecotoxicity and mutagenicity. Ecotoxicity was evaluated using commercial biotests, i.e., Daphtoxkit F magna (crustaceans), Rotoxkit F (rotifers), Spirodela duckweed toxkit (plants: Spirodela polyrhiza), and Microtox test (bacteria Alivibrio fischeri), whereas mutagenicity was evaluated using the Ames test (Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TAmix). The results demonstrated that the water used to extinguish the polyurethane foam had the highest toxicity. Moreover, Ames test results verified that the fire water runoff generated during testing with polyurethane foam was characterized by the highest mutagenicity. Consequently, water from extinguishing polyurethane foam may pose a greater environmental hazard than water from wood, chipboard, or PMMA.