Bulletin #5 from the Foam Exposure Committee, 8 January 2021

Firefighters have become much more aware of the perfluorinated chemical compounds used in  firefighting foams. PFAS are used in all Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) and pose a threat  to firefighter health, safety and life. In addition to exposure at incidents, ‘Firefighters may also  handle open containers of concentrated foams at the firehouse when topping off the apparatus  tank during scheduled maintenance.’¹ As such, the potential for incidental ingestion or  absorption through dermal (physical) contact should not be ignored. 

Several attendees to the Fire Department Instructor Conference (FDIC) 2019 held in  Indianapolis, Indiana heard Dr Graham Peaslee speak about his independent scientific study of  PFAS found in firefighter gear (PPE). These attendees were interested in testing firefighting  foam samples for the fire service. The Foam Exposure Committee (FEC) was formed shortly  thereafter. This committee includes two retired fire chiefs, an apparatus manufacturer, a foam  representative, a retired military firefighter and a widow of a fire chief. 

FEC set up standardized test sample kits. Procedures were established with independent  testing conducted by mass spectrometry (PIGE) for total fluorine (TF). Samples were taken from  firefighting foams in active use by US fire departments. The oldest firefighting foam sample  obtained was from 1978. 

There are critical issues involved with using older firefighting foams. ‘There are two key areas of  concern with these AFFFs containing these compounds: environmental impacts and health  impacts. Concerning the health impact, it is important to recognize that the body cannot  metabolize these chemicals.’²

The Foam Exposure Committee’s mission is to reduce firefighter/first responder exposures to perfluorinated chemicals used in firefighting foams in order to protect their health and lives. We will determine which firefighting products contain PFAS and those that are fluorine free. Our first responders should have immediate access to safer fluorine-free firefighting foams. For more information, contact Vicki Quint, Quint LLC at [email protected] or  262-794-7226

For more information, please visit: pfasproject.com/2020/03/19/foam-exposure-committee-leading-pfas-research/

References

¹ Fire Apparatus Magazine, Issue 7 and Volume 22, The Legacy of Firefighting Foam, Phillip Paff, July 10, 2017, https://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/2017/07/10/the-legacy-of-firefighting-foam/

² ibid.