Hey there, parents! I know you’re all looking out for your family’s health and well-being, just like me. But did you know there’s a hidden danger lurking in things we use every day – including our firefighters’ protective gear? Let’s dive into The Hidden Danger in Our Heroes’ Gear to uncover the truth.

A Toxic Threat in Firefighters’ Suits

Our brave firefighters are facing an unexpected enemy, not in the burning buildings they courageously step into, but within their own protective suits. Just recently, a firefighters’ union filed a lawsuit regarding the presence of cancer-causing chemicals found in these suits. Turns out, the majority of those commemorated at last year’s fallen firefighter memorial succumbed to occupational cancer, and the union believes it’s due to these suits.

Crazy, right? But here’s the kicker – there’s currently only one type of protective gear in the market. This means there’s no real push for safer alternatives until the standards for testing the gear are changed.

Wait, What Are These Chemicals?

I can hear you asking, “What are these harmful substances?” They’re called Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS for short. PFAS are a group of chemicals that make things resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Sounds good, right? Well, here’s the bad news – according to research, PFAS have been linked to serious health concerns like cancer, and harm to the reproductive and immune systems. This revelation sheds light on The Hidden Danger in Our Heroes’ Gear, uncovering the potential harm lurking within the very equipment designed to protect these brave individuals and their families. The lawsuit aims to hold accountable those responsible for these standards that seem to be causing more harm than good, creating a deeply unsettling situation.

PFAS in Your Home

The reason I’m sharing this with you is that these same chemicals are in our homes too, not just firefighters’ suits. PFAS can be found in things we use every day, from non-stick cookware to water-repellent clothing, to food packaging. Did you know, even some types of milk and yogurt have been found to contain PFAS? Now, that’s a breakfast buzzkill.

These chemicals are sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down naturally. They remain in the environment and can accumulate over time in our bodies. Yikes!

What Can We Do?

Right now, experts are investigating alternative materials and safer standards to protect our firefighters. But we should also look for ways to limit our family’s exposure to PFAS. Consider alternatives to non-stick cookware, and be aware of the potential for PFAS in water-repellent clothing and certain food packaging. After all, knowledge is power, and the more we know about these things, the better we can protect our families.

We’ll get through this, parents! Let’s stay informed, make wise choices, and keep fighting for a safer world for our kids, and our kids’ heroes.

References:

1. Fent, K.W., et al., “Firefighters’ Absorption of PAHs and EDCs during Controlled Residential Fires by Job Assignment and Fire Attack Tactic.” Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, vol. 30, no. 2, 2020, pp. 338–349.
2. Cogliano, V.J., et al., “Preventable Exposures Associated with Human Cancers.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 103, no. 24, 2011, pp. 1827–1839.
3. Alexander, B. H., and S. A. Larson, “Firefighters and Cancer: A Review of the Literature.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 61, no. 7, 2019, pp. e318–e326.
4. Elliot, J., et al., “Firefighters’ exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids and 2-butoxyethanol present in firefighting foams.” Toxicology Letters, vol. 231, no. 2, 2014, pp. 227-232.
5. Guidotti, Tee L., and Debra J. Aronson, “Firefighters and Occupational Cancer.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 57, no. 6, 2015, pp. 671–675.
6. Liu, Y., et al., “Carcinogenicity of Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Tetrafluoroethylene, Dichloromethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, and 1,3-Propane Sultone.” The Lancet Oncology, vol. 15, no. 13, 2014, pp. 924–925.
7. National Fire Protection Association, “NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting”, 2020.
8. Steenland, K., et al., “Epidemiologic Evidence on the Health Effects of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA).” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 118, no. 8, 2010, pp. 1100–1108.
9. DeWitt, Jamie C., et al., “Immunotoxicity of Perfluorinated Compounds: Recent Developments.” Toxicologic Pathology, vol. 40, no. 2, 2012, pp. 300–311.
10. Sundström, Maria, et al., “A Fluorochemical Paper Additive in Mother’s Milk.” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 42, no. 13, 2008, pp. 4653–4658.
11. Goldenman, Gretta, et al., “The cost of inaction: A socioeconomic analysis of costs linked to effects of endocrine disrupting substances on male reproductive health.” Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 100, no. 12, 2015, pp. 1256–1266.