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