UPDATE: Statement From IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly on PFAS Lawsuits Filed in New York and Massachusetts:
“The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) supports the latest legal challenges filed by fire fighters in Massachusetts and New York alleging that the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – so called ‘forever chemicals’ also known as PFAS — in fire fighters’ personal protective equipment (PPE) caused their illnesses, and that the corporations who sell the products are engaged in a ‘continuous and ongoing public deception’ regarding their risks.
“What we have known for a while and what the public is starting to learn is that there is also another hazard lurking that threatens the health and well-being of fire fighters in every firehouse in the United States and every fire hall in Canada. The protective turnout gear that fire fighters wear contains PFAS, which are used to increase water resistance and are in the moisture barrier and on the outer shell of fire fighters’ protective gear. PFAS have also been identified as ‘possibly carcinogenic’ to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The correlation between fire fighters and elevated cases of cancer is not by coincidence.
“It is the position of the IAFF, representing more than 326,000 professional fire fighters, paramedics and emergency medical dispatchers across the United States and Canada, that PFAS play a direct role in contributing to the increased incidence of cancer among fire fighters.
“To reaffirm our position, delegates assembled at the 2021 IAFF Convention overwhelmingly adopted two resolutions directly related to this subject:
- Resolution 28
Calls on the IAFF to no longer accept sponsorships or advertising from the chemical industry, textile manufacturers or personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers that use toxic chemicals in PPE, recommends an end to the practice of repurposing used or expired PPE and calls on the IAFF to publish information on PFAS based on research by independent scientists with no connections to the PPE industry.
- Resolution 31
Calls on the IAFF to actively oppose the use of PFAS in turnout gear and to seek independent testing of PPE currently available to determine levels of PFAS and the ability of the chemicals to penetrate skin, to seek cooperation with manufacturers to immediately cease the use of PPE containing PFAS and urges the IAFF to apply for a federal grant to study the negative health effects of PFAS in PPE.
“The position of the IAFF is clear: the health and safety of our members is non-negotiable, period. If manufacturers refuse to acknowledge and work to remove these toxic chemicals from the protective gear fire fighters wear, our members have no other viable remedies than to challenge these practices in court.
“Our members will not waver in protecting their health and safety. This is a crucial and necessary step to finally remove these toxic chemicals from our turnout gear.”
ORIGINAL STORY:
Several Worcester (MA) firefighters who have been diagnosed with cancer filed a federal lawsuit over so-called “forever chemicals” in firefighter turnout gear, according to the Telegram and Gazette. A separate lawsuit was also filed on behalf of firefighters with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).
Filed on Tuesday, the lawsuit alleges that the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in the firefighters’ personal protective equipment (PPE) caused their illnesses, and that the corporations who sell the products are engaged in a “continuous and ongoing public deception” regarding their risks.
Retired Brockton Deputy Fire Chief Joins Lawsuit Claiming Protective Firefighter Gear Caused Cancer
A recent study confirmed researchers’ concerns over PFAS in bunker gear. “You guys [firefighters] are getting occupational doses and until now, nobody knew about it,” said Dr. Graham Peaslee of Notre Dame, who also conducted studies on the chemicals and firefighter gear. “This paper is going to re-emphasize that we treat this gear with respect—that we keep it sequestered from our other laundry, that we rewash it before we wear it, that we keep it sequestered from other use if you’re not actively using it.”
In addition to firefighter PPE, firefighting foam also contains PFAS and numerous cases of groundwater contamination have been identified around the country. In late 2021, the North Carolina Department of Justice filed suit against more than a dozen manufacturers of firefighting foam, citing groundwater contamination at four sites across the state.
- Researcher Responds to Claims About PFAS, Firefighter PPE
- It’s Time for Firefighters to Demand PFAS-Free PPE
- Your Gear, Your Life: Firefighter PPE Toxins and What to Do About Them
- NFPA Rejects Appeal from IAFF on Firefighter PPE and PFAS
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS break down very slowly over time and can build up in people, animals, and the environment. The EPA also notes that PFAS may lead to an increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers, as well as reproductive issues, immune system and hormonal deficiencies, and developmental problems in children who are exposed to the chemicals.
The lawsuit says the Worcester firefighters involved in the suit had lab tests that confirmed “significantly elevated” levels of PFAS in their blood, according to the Telegram. Four current and retired firefighters who have served the City of New York as firefighters additionally filed suit on Tuesday over PFAS exposure.
