New Illinois law to phase out PFAS use on firefighter gear

By Sydney Leyerle | WGEM | December 31, 2025

Read the full article by Sydney Leyerle (WGEM)

"On Jan. 1, Illinois House Bill 2409 goes into effect, meaning manufacturers selling firefighter gear will be required to state that the gear contains intentionally added PFAS.

By Jan. 1, 2027, it will become illegal to intentionally add PFAS to gear.

PFAS is a variety of man-made chemicals. It is currently used in most firefighter gear to protect firefighters from heat and water, but it also raises their risk for cancer.

Quincy Fire Department (QFD) firefighter, Zach Vahlkamp, said firefighters already have a high risk of cancer because of the chemicals they may breathe in during a fire, so he hopes phasing out PFAS in their gear will lower their exposure to dangerous chemicals."