Fire chiefs eye future of gear without 'forever chemicals'

By Tom Lehman | WGAL | May 17, 2024

Read the full article by Tom Lehman (WGAL)

"If you look through the aisles of the Fire Expo Show, you'll see plenty of firefighting vehicles, equipment, and tools — including gear that does not contain so-called "forever chemicals" that have been linked to cancer and other health problems.

Turnout gear with PFAS was among the items featured at the expo, reflecting a shift among some fire companies and departments to begin examining the future of use of such equipment. Some studies have shown that so-called "forever chemicals" are linked to a number of health problems and cancer and are found in widely used fire gear.

"We want to keep our cancer rate down, firefighter cancer rates are super high," said Jason Jacoby, with Ricochet Gear Manufacturing, which produces PFAS-free gear."

This content provided by the PFAS Project.

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