Firefighters who Battled Maui Wildfires Have High Levels of PFAS

By Nina Wu | Fire House | April 2, 2025

Read the full article by Nina Wu (Fire House)

"Maui firefighters who responded to the August 2023 Maui wildfires had the highest levels of “forever chemicals ” known as PFAS in their bloodstream when compared with other first responders a month later.

PFAS, or per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals used in many industry and consumer products, including firefighting foams that are associated with cancer and other adverse health effects. They are called “forever chemicals ” because they do not break down easily.

A recent by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—the first known to focus specifically on Maui County first responders—shared this finding, noting that the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires destroyed thousands of structures, vehicles and parcels of land, resulting in 102 deaths."

Location:

• North AmericaUS
• North AmericaUSHawaii

Topics:

• ChemicalsPFAS
• ProductsFirefighting foam
• SourcesMilitary bases
• SourcesFire departments
• Health
• Monitoring Data
• PFAS Uses