"A new bill proposed in the New York city council would ban the use of toxic Pfas forever chemicals in protective gear worn by the city's 11,000 firefighters. The New York fire department is the nation's largest firefighting force, and approval of the legislation would mark a major win for advocates who are pushing for safer turnout gear alternatives across the US."
"Turnout gear, including jackets, pants, boots, gloves and other protective equipment that firefighters wear, is treated heavily with Pfas that makes it resistant to water and heat, and helps the textiles breathe. But occupational cancer is the leading killer of firefighters nationwide, and the regular exposure to the highly toxic Pfas is thought to be a driver of the deaths. The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) estimates cancer from turnout gear accounted for 66% of firefighter deaths from 2002 to 2019."
"The bill would also require testing of the city fire houses' water supplies, and establish a voluntary program that allows firefighters to test their blood for Pfas. The New York city council minority leader, Joann Ariola, a Queens Republican who authored the bill that has bipartisan support, noted that safer options are readily available. Those carcinogens are in their [turnout gear] and they are wearing it over and over and over,"
New York City Council proposes banning PFAS chemicals in turnout gear worn by about 11,000 firefighters. Approval would align New York with Massachusetts, Connecticut and Illinois, which enacted similar bans. Turnout gear is treated with PFAS to repel water, stains and heat while allowing textiles to breathe. Occupational cancer is the leading cause of firefighter deaths nationwide, and repeated PFAS exposure is believed to drive many of those cancers. The proposal would also require testing of firehouse water supplies and create a voluntary program for firefighters to test their blood for PFAS. Safer non-PFAS turnout gear alternatives are available.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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