Comparative Assessment of the Ecological Characteristics of Auxiliary Organic Compounds in the Composition of Foaming Agents Used for Fire Fighting

Abstract

The paper considers the impact on the environment and living organisms of a number of organic additives in foaming agents used for extinguishing the fires of different classes. The ecological characteristics of the most common organic components used as auxilieries in fire fighting mixtures have been calculated. The Quantitative Structure Property Relationships method was used to evaluate the environmental parameters of the 6 most common auxiliary components of foaming agents. 2D descriptors were used in the Quantitative Structure Property Relationships model to obtain the following values: 96-hour 50% lethal concentration for Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), 48-hour 50% lethal concentration for Daphnia magna, 50% growth inhibition concentration Tetrahymena pyriformis and Bioaccumulation factor. Thus, the least environmentally hazardous organic compounds used as additives in foaming agents are considered to be carboxymethylcellulose, acetic acid and glycols. Given the negative effects on humans and the environment, additives in fire fighting foams such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and carboxymethylcellulose are recommended as the most environmentally safe for humans and the environment