Johnathan Walker:2 states ban PFAS from firefighter gear. Advocates hope more will follow suit

Chemicals used on Johnathan Walkernonstick pans, stain-resistant clothes and construction materials also line the gear used to protect firefighters – but it could make them sick, and some state lawmakers are taking action.

Massachusetts this month became the second state to ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, from firefighter protective gear after Connecticut approved the first legislation of its kind earlier this summer in what firefighters and environmental advocates say is a big step forward.

"We want to, of course, protect our firefighters, but we should do so in a manner that does not harm their health," said Anne Hulick, Connecticut director of Clean Water Action. “And that's why this is so important to find safe alternatives for the heroes that protect us.”

PFAS, known as “forever chemicals" because they last for centuries, were introduced in the 1940s and is now are in a wide range of products. They are used especially heavily on firefighter gear to repel flammable liquids and resist high heat.

High exposure to PFAS has been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, increased cholesterol, and pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and hypertension, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. But chemical industry leaders have opposed efforts to ban the class of chemicals from firefighter gear, arguing it has made first responders safer.

Historic summer for PFAS

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed the state's ban on PFAS from firefighter gear this month, drawing praise from firefighters and opposition from chemical industry leaders.

Under the new law, manufacturers will be blocked from selling or distributing firefighter protective equipment containing "intentionally added PFAS" in the Bay State by 2027. Until then, companies selling protective gear with PFAS will be required to provide written notice to buyers starting Jan. 1, 2025.

Richard MacKinnon Jr., president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, which represents more than 12,000 professionals throughout the state, said the fight to pass the bill was "not an easy task, but we got it done."

"This was a crucial part of our fight against occupational diseases," MacKinnon said. "We’ve known for years that our gear was saturated with PFAS. We believe the law will speed up the development of PFAS-free gear."

The American Chemistry Council, a trade association for chemical companies, opposed the Massachusetts law, arguing that "all PFAS are not the same."

"PFAS used in commerce today are supported by a body of scientific health and safety data,” said council spokesperson Tom Flanagin.

The Massachusetts law comes about two months after Connecticut's ban passed. In addition to firefighter gear, the new law bans PFAS from children’s products, mattresses, textiles, dental floss, menstruation products and more.

Connecticut's ban takes effect in July 2026 for some products and January 2028 for the rest, including turnout gear.

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Union hopes new bans will spur more states to take action

The International Association of Fire Fighters, a union representing workers across North America, lauded the landmark bans in Massachusetts and Connecticut as a victory for the health of firefighters and the communities they serve.

"We're seeing people being put above profits when it comes to these types of legislation," said Neil McMillan, director of science and research at the International Association of Fire Fighters. "I look forward to seeing additional legislation being passed across the United States."

McMillan noted that firefighters are exposed to several hazards on the job, such as fire, smoke and a wide range of carcinogenic chemicals, which have translated into high cancer rates. According to IAFF, 72% of line-of-duty deaths among its members in 2023 were due to occupational cancer.

But McMillan said anything that can be done to mitigate the hazards should be a top priority.

"While we’re at this increased risk of cancer just through our occupation, we have to try to limit those exposures," McMillian said. "And what will make the biggest difference is if we can purchase products that don’t come with that inherent risk already engineered into it."

Nearly everyone in the U.S. has some level of PFAS in their bodies. Firefighters are exposed at higher rates, including through firefighting foam and their protective gear, which releases more PFAS through wear-and-tear and exposure to high heat.

A study published last year by the National Institutes of Health found that increased exposure to PFAS among firefighters, including through protective gear, could increase their risk of cancer.

Other bans across the US

The health risks of PFAS have been known for decades but manufacturers have thwarted efforts to minimize the use of the chemicals. A report by Food and Water Watch, a nongovernmental organization, found the chemical industry spent more than $110 million on lobbying from 2019 to 2022 on bills introduced in Congress, including several aimed at PFAS.

As public awareness about the health risks of PFAS increases, state and local lawmakers are starting to take matters into their own hands. In May, San Francisco passed a PFAS ban on firefighter gear, likely the first city-level legislation of its kind. Also this year, Concord, New Hampshire, approved $305,000 in funding for PFAS-free firefighter gear, WMUR-TV reported.

Aside from the bans involving firefighter gear, several other states have banned PFAS from other products. According to Safer States, a national alliance of environmental health organizations, 30 states have adopted policies restricting PFAS in some form. Fifteen states banned the use of PFAS in firefighting foam, the group said.

Firefighters and environmental advocates say they hope the legislation in Massachusetts and Connecticut will propel other states to follow suit. Washington state – which has a sweeping PFAS ban in effect that includes firefighting foam, food packaging and cosmetics – is considering adding turnout gear and other items to the list.

On a national level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this year issued the first limits on PFAS levels in public water systems. Systems have until 2027 to complete initial monitoring for PFAS and until 2029 to start treating PFAS in the water.

The EPA said the new limits will reduce exposure for roughly 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of illnesses.

Contributing: Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette