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Profiles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in firefighter turnout gear and their impact on exposure assessment
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Researchers analyzed PFAS profiles in firefighter turnout gear before and after wear-and-tear cycles, finding that mechanical stress and laundering release polymeric and short-chain PFAS from textile treatments, increasing dermal and inhalation exposure risks for firefighters during active use.
Firefighters are increasingly concerned about their exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Polymeric PFAS are commonly used in the manufacturing and treatment of textiles designed for firefighters' turnout gear. This study was conducted to assess the effect of wear and tear on the concentrations and distribution of PFAS in used turnout gear by analyzing swatches taken from different areas from the different layers of the gear: the outer layer (OL), moisture barrier (MB), and thermal liner (TL). In the OL, samples collected from the bottom back of the pants showed higher concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) than samples taken from the knee, ankle, and groin areas. In the jacket, samples from the neck of the OL exhibited lower PFAA concentrations compared to samples taken from the back, elbow, and underarm areas. In addition, this study assessed PFAS profiles in the layers of five firefighter jackets (J) and four pants (P) manufactured between 2008 and 2019. The jacket manufactured in 2019, which had been in service for only one year, recorded the lowest PFAS concentration at 284 ng g-1. Notably, fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs, including n = 6, 8, 10) were detected in all samples, accounting for over 50% of the total PFAS content. Generally, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was found in older jackets, while perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) was detected in newer jackets. Interestingly, the highest concentrations of FTOHs in the MB occurred in unused gear (DOM 2011), and these concentrations increased over time since manufacture, with the lowest levels found in newer and lightly used gear (DOM 2019). Moreover, the thermal liner from the unused gear had the lowest PFAS concentration.
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Toward the future of firefighter gear: Assessing fluorinated and non-fluorinated outer shells following simulated on-the-job exposures
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This study evaluated traditional PFAS-based and newer non-PFAS water-repellent coatings on firefighter turnout gear after simulated weathering, thermal, and laundering exposures. Both coatings performed similarly for thermal protection and water repellency, but non-PFAS fabrics lacked oil repellency — posing a potential flammability hazard — and both chemistries shed particles during aging, highlighting important safety trade-offs in transitioning away from PFAS.
Research on the PFAS release and migration behavior of multi-layer outdoor jacket fabrics
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Researchers tracked PFAS release from DWR-treated outdoor jacket fabrics through aging, abrasion, and washing, finding that prolonged use concentrates perfluoroalkyl acids in inner fabric layers and significantly elevates fluorine and microfiber shedding into wash effluents — levels exceeding current regulatory limits and suggesting current chemical-by-chemical PFAS regulations are inadequate.
Firefighters’ exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as an occupational hazard: A review
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This review examines how firefighters face elevated cancer risk from occupational exposure to PFAS, a class of toxic "forever chemicals" found in their protective gear, firefighting foam, and fire station dust. While focused on PFAS rather than microplastics directly, the research is relevant because both PFAS and microplastics are persistent environmental pollutants that accumulate in the body. PFAS are also commonly found attached to microplastic surfaces, making microplastics a potential carrier of these carcinogenic chemicals.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Facemasks: Potential Source of Human Exposure to PFAS with Implications for Disposal to Landfills
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Researchers detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nine commercially available facemasks, finding that both treated and untreated masks contain fluorine compounds that could be inhaled during use and that mass disposal to landfills risks leaching PFAS into groundwater.
Analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) extraction from contaminated firefighting materials: Effects of cleaning agent, temperature, and chain-length dependencies
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Researchers tested how effectively 22 types of PFAS "forever chemicals" — used in firefighting foam and gear — can be removed from contaminated materials using different washing methods and temperatures. They found that shorter-chain PFAS compounds wash out more easily, and that higher temperatures improve removal, but PFAS levels can slowly rebound in materials days after cleaning.
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