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This work assessed firefighters’ exposure to particulate matter (PM) in non-fire work settings during pre-fire season, as a baseline for the respective occupational exposure characterization. Indoor and outdoor air sampling was conducted for two weeks in pre-fire season of 2021 in seven fire corporations (FC1-FC7) in north of Portugal. PM fractions (PM2.5, PM10) were continuously monitored concurrently in indoors (living rooms, rest areas, truck bays) and outdoors. The results showed low levels of pollution. Indoor PM10 was between 2 and 205 μg m–3 (mean 10 μg m–3); PM2.5 were 2—115 μg m–3 (8.5 μg m–3). Both indoor PM fractions were highly and significantly correlated (rs = 0.959–0.997). PM2.5 accounted for 85% of indoor PM; indoor to outdoor ratios (I/O) of PM2.5 ranged between 1.4 and 3.0, thus emphasizing the contribution of indoor emission sources for fine fraction. Outdoor PM10 were 2–6 times higher than indoors (6–894 μg m–3; mean 21 μg m–3); and 2–9 times higher for PM2.5 (5 – 169 μg m–3; 5 μg m–3). Outdoor PM were moderately correlated (rs = 0.584 – 0.878), most likely due to meteorological conditions. Coarse particles contributed the majority of ambient PM10 and accounted for 79%. This work was financially supported by PCIF/SSO/0017/2018 by FCT-MCTES through national funds. Additional supports include projects LA/P/0045/2020 (ALiCE), UIDB/00511/2020—UIDP/00511/2020 (LEPABE), UIDB/00690/2020 (CIMO), UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020 (REQUIMTE), and FCT fellowship SFRH/BPD/115/112/2016, and PhD grant UI/BD/150783/2020. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion