environmental impacts of firefighting foams
TRANSCRIPT
Environmental Impacts of Environmental Impacts of Firefighting FoamsFirefighting Foams
William H. Ruppert, IV, P.E.William H. Ruppert, IV, P.E.Daniel P. Verdonik, Eng. Sc. D.Daniel P. Verdonik, Eng. Sc. D.
Christopher Christopher HanauskaHanauska, P.E., P.E.
IntroductionIntroduction
Firefighting FoamsFirefighting Foams Highly effective for fuel pool fires for over 50 yearsHighly effective for fuel pool fires for over 50 years
New Foams and Foam Systems improve New Foams and Foam Systems improve effectivenesseffectiveness
Foams Impact All Environmental MediaFoams Impact All Environmental Media Surface/Ground Water, Air, SoilSurface/Ground Water, Air, Soil
Some New Formulations decrease impactSome New Formulations decrease impact
�Environmentally Benign� Foam does not exist�Environmentally Benign� Foam does not exist
AllAll Foams Regulated throughout their �lifeFoams Regulated throughout their �life--cycle�cycle�
Firefighting Foams and SystemsFirefighting Foams and Systems
Many Foam TypesMany Foam Types�� AFFFAFFF
�� ARAR--AFFFAFFF
�� Protein FoamsProtein Foams
�� FluoroproteinFluoroprotein FoamsFoams
�� Class A FoamsClass A Foams
Many SystemsMany Systems�� DelugeDeluge
�� Overhead or Floor Mounted nozzlesOverhead or Floor Mounted nozzles
�� CrashCrash--FireFire--Rescue TrucksRescue Trucks
Foam And System Tailored to Specific NeedFoam And System Tailored to Specific Need
��Medium/High Expansion FoamsMedium/High Expansion Foams
��Wetting AgentsWetting Agents
��Training FoamsTraining Foams
��System Testing SurrogatesSystem Testing Surrogates
��Etc.Etc.
Firefighting Foam Ingredients:Firefighting Foam Ingredients:4 Main Types4 Main Types
WaterWater
Butyl CarbitolButyl CarbitolPropylene GlycolsPropylene GlycolsHexylene GlycolHexylene Glycol1,2 Propanediol1,2 Propanediol22--ButoxyethanolButoxyethanolMethylMethyl--1H1H--BenzotriazoleBenzotriazolePropylene Glycol tPropylene Glycol t--Butyl Ether Butyl Ether Tetraethylene Glycol Dimethyl EtherTetraethylene Glycol Dimethyl Ether
1H1H--BenzotriazoleBenzotriazole
NN--Propanol Propanol
TriethanolamineTriethanolamine
Ethylene GlycolEthylene Glycol
Etc.Etc.
Solvents
FluorosurfactantsFluorosurfactantsHydrocarbon SurfactantsHydrocarbon SurfactantsProtienProtien--Based SurfactantsBased SurfactantsSynthetic Detergent MixturesSynthetic Detergent MixturesFluroalkyl Fluroalkyl SurfactantsSurfactantsEtc.Etc.
Surfactants
Polysacchaaride GumPolysacchaaride Gum
Sodium ChlorideSodium Chloride
Nonylphenol EthoxylateNonylphenol Ethoxylate
22--BiphenylolBiphenylol Sodium SaltSodium Salt
Corrosion InhibitorsCorrosion Inhibitors
Etc.Etc.
Acetic AcidAcetic Acid
BiocideBiocide
DichloropheneDichlorophene
EDTAEDTA
Ferrous SulfateFerrous Sulfate
Zinc oxide Zinc oxide
Additives/ Modifiers
Diluent
Firefighting Foam Ingredients:Firefighting Foam Ingredients:ProportionsProportions
Avg. Ingredient Concentration in Firefighting FoamsAvg. Ingredient Concentration in Firefighting Foams
ConcentratesConcentrates SolutionsSolutions(3% concentrate/97% water)(3% concentrate/97% water)
SurfactantSurfactant17%17%
Solvent Solvent 16%16%
AdditivesAdditives12%12%
WaterWater65%65%
SolventSolvent0.49%0.49%
AdditivesAdditives0.05%0.05%
SurfactantSurfactant0.52%0.52%
WaterWater98.94%98.94%
Foam Environmental PropertiesFoam Environmental Properties
FoamingFoaming
Oil Emulsification Oil Emulsification
Aquatic Toxicity Aquatic Toxicity
Oxygen Demand and BiodegradationOxygen Demand and Biodegradation
Persistence / Bioaccumulation Persistence / Bioaccumulation
Foam SolutionFoam SolutionEnvironmental Properties: Environmental Properties:
Aquatic ToxicityAquatic Toxicity
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
AFFF AR-Fluroprotein
Fluroprotein Hi-EX Protein
EC50 High RangeEC50 Low Range
Log
EC
50, W
ater
Fle
a,
Log
EC
50, W
ater
Fle
a,
48 H
ours
48 H
ours
Mor
e M
ore
Tox
icT
oxic
Less
Le
ss
Tox
icT
oxic
Foam SolutionFoam SolutionEnvironmental Properties: Environmental Properties:
Aquatic ToxicityAquatic Toxicity
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
AFFF AR-Fluroprotein
Fluroprotein Hi-EX Protein
LC50 High RangeLC50 Low Range
Log
LC50
, Rai
nbow
Lo
g LC
50, R
ainb
ow
Tro
ut, 2
4 H
ours
Tro
ut, 2
4 H
ours
Mor
e M
ore
Tox
icT
oxic
Less
Le
ss
Tox
icT
oxic
Foam Ingredient Properties: Foam Ingredient Properties: Aquatic ToxicityAquatic Toxicity
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
Ethyleneglycol
Hexyleneglycol
ButylCellosolve
DiethyleneGlycol
MonobutylEther
DipropyleneGlycol
MonomethylEther
PropyleneGlycol
Ethanol
Log
LC50
, Spe
cies
Var
yLo
g LC
50, S
peci
es V
ary
Mor
e M
ore
Tox
icT
oxic
Less
Le
ss
Tox
icT
oxic
Foam SolutionFoam SolutionEnvironmental Properties:Environmental Properties:
Oxygen DemandOxygen Demand
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
Ch
emic
al O
xyg
en
Dem
and
, mg
/L
AF
FF
AR
-AF
FF
AR
-F
luro
pro
tein
Cla
ss "
A"
Fo
ams
Flu
rop
rote
in
Hi-
EX
Pro
tein
Was
tew
ater
3% S
imp
leG
reen
COD High RangeCOD Low Range
Foam SolutionFoam SolutionEnvironmental Properties:Environmental Properties:
Oxygen DemandOxygen Demand
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
Bio
chem
ical
Oxy
gen
D
eman
d (m
g/L
)
AF
FF
AR
-AF
FF
AR
-F
luro
prot
ein
Cla
ss "
A"
Foa
ms
Flu
ropr
otei
n
Hi-E
X
Pro
tein
Was
tew
ater
3% S
impl
eG
reen
BOD 20 High RangeBOD 20 Low Range
Foam Ingredient Properties:Foam Ingredient Properties:Oxygen DemandOxygen Demand
0
5 0 0 0 0 0
10 0 0 0 0 0
15 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 5 0 0 0 0 0
BO D5
CO D
Oxy
gen
Dem
and
, mg
/LO
xyg
en D
eman
d, m
g/L
Foam Environmental Properties:Foam Environmental Properties:BiodegradabilityBiodegradability
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
Bio
deg
rad
abili
ty
Rat
io
AF
FF
AR
-AF
FF
AR
-F
luro
pro
tein
Cla
ss "
A"
Fo
ams
Hi-
EX
Pro
tein
3% S
imp
leG
reen
Environmental LawsEnvironmental Laws Affecting Affecting FoamsFoams
The Clean Water ActThe Clean Water Act Discharges to/from sanitary or storm sewerDischarges to/from sanitary or storm sewer
The Clean Air Act The Clean Air Act Air emissions during manufacture, use, disposal.Air emissions during manufacture, use, disposal.
CERCLA or Superfund, SARA, and EPCRACERCLA or Superfund, SARA, and EPCRA Handling/recordkeeping/reporting during storage, use, Handling/recordkeeping/reporting during storage, use,
releases, cleanreleases, clean--upup RCRA/HSWARCRA/HSWA
DisposalDisposal The Safe Drinking Water ActThe Safe Drinking Water Act
Purity / Aesthetic quality of drinking waterPurity / Aesthetic quality of drinking water The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Manufacture of ingredients and foamsManufacture of ingredients and foams The Uniform National Discharge Standard for The Uniform National Discharge Standard for
Vessels of the Armed Forces (UNDS)Vessels of the Armed Forces (UNDS) Discharge of materials from ships in Waters of USDischarge of materials from ships in Waters of US
Foam Concentrate Manufacturing
Ingredient Manufacturing
Concentrate Storage
Concentrate In-System(Fixed Facility or on Truck)
Concentrate Mixed and Discharged (For Training, Testing, Fire Events, and Accidental Discharge)
Foam Discharge Contained Foam Discharge Uncontained
Foam Disposed Of Or Treated Elsewhere (Incinerator, Landfill,
etc.)
Foam Released to Sanitary Sewer
Foam Treated in Wastewater Treatment
Plant
Foam Released to Storm Sewer, Surface Water, or Drained into
Ground
Foam Cleaned Up
Concentrate Disposed Of (Expired Shelf Life, etc.)
Accidental Spill
Applicable Environmental Laws Clean Air Act Clean Water Act CERCLA/EPCRA/SARA Oil Pollution Act RCRA Safe Drinking Water Act Toxic Substances Control Act
LifeLife--Cycle ofCycle ofFoamsFoams
Summary Summary
Fire protection/suppression benefits too Fire protection/suppression benefits too great to eliminate foamsgreat to eliminate foams
No foam is environmentally benignNo foam is environmentally benign All foams have an environmental impactAll foams have an environmental impact
Environmental impacts of foams must be Environmental impacts of foams must be mitigatedmitigated Formulation not the complete answerFormulation not the complete answer Systems and policy must be designed to Systems and policy must be designed to
reduce impacts of foamsreduce impacts of foams