Another Pathway for Firefighter Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Firefighter Textiles

Abstract

Occupational exposure to aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) can lead to elevated concentrations of per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighter blood sera. AFFF are also one exposure source of PFAS in the general population because of their environmental persistence and solubility in groundwater. Because of the documented adverse health effects of PFAS, the primary concern to date in the fire services has centered on repeated use and exposure to AFFF. In this work, an additional PFAS exposure source for firefighters is presented: PFAS that are shed from their protective clothing. Textiles used as firefighter turnout gear were found to have high levels of total fluorine (up to 2%), and individual PFAS were identified and measured on new and used firefighting turnout gear. Used gear showed lower levels of PFAS as well as an increased migration into untreated material. A dust measurement from a textile storage area also suggests direct loss of PFAS from the fluoropolymers in the textiles. Because PFAS that are shed from the textiles used in turnout gear are more mobile, they represent another viable exposure source for firefighters that warrants further study.

An overview of the uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

“…2.2.5 Studies that measured PFAS in products. There are also numerous individual studies that analysed PFAS in products, for example in apparel, 54,55 building materials, 56 hydraulic uids and engine oils, 57 impregnation sprays, 58,59 re-ghting foams, [60][61][62][63][64][65] food packaging materials, 66,67 or various other consumer products. 33,[68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75] These studies are important because they show in which products PFAS exist.…”

Prevalence and Predictors of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Serum Levels among Members of a Suburban US Volunteer Fire Department

“…Firefighters can be exposed to PFAS through multiple pathways. Firefighters’ protective clothing (aka, gear or turnout gear) was historically treated with PFAS to provide water and stain resistance properties; evidence of PFAS in all layers of gear has been reported [ 13 ]. Residential, commercial, and industrial building structure and vehicle fires may burn products that contain PFAS including electronics, furniture, carpeting, and insulation and release particles that can be inhaled or settle on gear and skin [ 14 ].…”

Brominated flame-retardant composition in firefighter bunker gear and its thermal performance analysis

“…Similar observations were reported in a recent study where textiles used for firefighter gear were found to containing high levels of total fluorine (up to 2%), and PFAS were detected and measured on both new and used firefighter gear. 30 Three of the new samples (C, D and E) exhibited lower Br content as compared to the older samples (F and H). Sample F was observed to have the highest Br content (20367 µg/g) and sample G with the least (444 ± 179 µg/g).…”