Showing 1-15 of 132
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Peters and Dingell bill to protect firefighters from hazardous PFAS chemicals becomes law
News
2 Jan 2023 | Press & Guide
The legislation led by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell to help protect the health and safety of firefighters and emergency responders from PFAS exposure has been signed into law.
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Perfluoroalkyl substances exposure in firefighters: Sources and implications
Science
27 Dec 2022 | Environ Res
This article summarizes the history of AFFF use by firefighters and describes PFAS exposure and removal pathways, PFAS accumulation in blood serum of firefighters, and occupational factors affecting PFAS levels in firefighters, all of which may influence how firefighters have elevated risks of developing thyroid, kidney, testicular, and prostate cancer.
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[Blog] A look back on 2022: states led the way on protecting public health from toxic chemicals
News
16 Dec 2022 | Safer States
By the end of 2022, bipartisan majorities in 14 states adopted at least 33 policies that are transforming our economic system to be one that better protects communities and creates incentives for industry to develop safer chemicals.
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Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances in Runoff and Leaching from AFFF-Contaminated Soils: a Rainfall Simulation Study
Science
10 Nov 2022 | Environ Sci Technol
PFAS concentrations in AFFF-contaminated soils declined significantly after the first rainfall event, but desorption and transport in both runoff and leachates persisted over several rainfall events.
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Presumptive Contamination: A New Approach to PFAS Contamination Based on Likely Sources
Science
12 Oct 2022 | ES&T
A contamination model was used to create a map of presumptive PFAS contamination sites in the United States, identifying more than 57,000 sites including industrial facilities, wastewater treatment plants, current or former military sites, and airports.
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Firefighting foam trials present next big PFAS challenge for 3M
News
1 Oct 2022 | Star Tribune
But the miracle firefighting foam's key ingredient was one of the "forever chemicals" that have come to haunt 3M. PFAS chemicals don't biodegrade, tainting the environment. They have been linked to cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility and other maladies.
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Characterization of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances on fire suppression system piping and optimization of removal methods
Science
19 Sep 2022 | Chemosphere
Fire suppression systems accumulate residual PFAS in pipe surfaces due to AFFF use, and new fluorine-free foam can be contaminated with PFAS if the systems are not properly cleaned.
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Firefighters and supporters are pushing hard for PFAS-free turnout gear
News
15 Sep 2022 | NC Health News
Firefighting is an occupation that comes with inherent risks. For instance, the rate at which firefighters develop cancer outpaces the general population by 9 percent.
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Firefighters told to wear gear less to limit exposure to ‘forever chemicals’ linked to cancer
News
25 Aug 2022 | NBC News
A firefighters union and a chiefs association are both warning members that the protective gear firefighters wear poses a health risk because it can contain PFAS, synthetic chemicals associated with issues such as an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer.
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Food Grown on Fire Stations as a Potential Pathway for Firefighters’ Exposure to Per-and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Science
15 Aug 2022 | Environ. Int.
Firefighters may be most exposed to PFAS by consuming food grown on fire stations, followed by incidental ingestion and dermal absorption of PFAS in dust.
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Some firetrucks still carry toxic PFAS foam
News
11 Jul 2022 | The Day
Multiple fire stations in Connecticut still have trucks that contain banned firefighting foam in their tanks that can’t be used because of its toxicity, mostly due to a lack of funding to remove the poisonous substance.
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Global patterns and temporal trends of perfluoroalkyl substances in municipal wastewater: A meta-analysis
Science
30 Jun 2022 | Water Res
Serum PFHxS, Sm‐PFOS, n‐PFOS, n‐PFOA, and PFNA concentrations were increased in at least two of four fire departments compared to NHANES national data.
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Federal PFAS Report Card
Policy
13 Jun 2022
EWG has researched actions the federal government is committed to taking, or for which it faces congressionally mandated deadlines, to tackle the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
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Silicone Wristbands Track Firefighters’ Exposure to Harmful Chemicals
News
25 May 2022 | Duke University
Recent research by scientists at Duke University could give doctors and public health officials a new tool for tracking firefighters’ exposures to PFAS, cancer-causing chemicals and determining where and when the risks might be greatest.
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AFFF and PFAS At Forefront of Federal Action This Week
Policy
2 May 2022
Not long after the DOD provided a report in which it identified substitutes for PFAS-containing AFFF but indicated that each might not be feasible, legislators yesterday continued to apply pressure to the federal government with proposed legislation to ban the manufacture, import, and sale of any PFAS-containing AFFF in the United States.