Many are unaware that the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service is firefighter occupational cancer. According to a multi-year study of nearly 30,000 career firefighters by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), firefighters have a 100 percent increased risk of getting mesothelioma, they have a 62 percent higher risk of getting esophageal cancer, and they have just over a 100 percent higher risk of getting testicular cancer. This is why we are introducing legislation aimed at protecting all the individuals who serve our communities as firefighters by banning PFAS forever chemicals from firefighting personal protective equipment.  
 
PFAS chemicals are one of the major classes of carcinogenic chemicals that firefighters are exposed to as an occupational hazard. Among the sources of occupational exposure to PFAS chemicals are firefighters’ personal protective equipment, firefighting foam, and air and dust at both fire scenes and fire stations. The personal protective equipment used by firefighters is constructed with a type of PFAS chemical or treated extensively with PFAS chemicals to make the gear oil and water resistant and withstand very high temperatures. Unfortunately,  PFAS compounds can degrade over time and shed or form dust that can transfer from the equipment to hands and skin when handled.
 
Our legislation would prohibit the distribution, manufacture, production or sale of firefighting personal equipment that contains an intentionally added PFAS chemical beginning January 1, 2028, with a few certain exceptions.   
 
Please join us in supporting this important legislation.