Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has signed a bill into law aimed at gradually eliminating the use of PFAS, a group of hazardous industrial compounds, in the protective gear of firefighters.
PFAS, known to be linked to various health issues such as breast, kidney, and testicular cancer, are commonly utilized in firefighting gear to repel water and other substances during fire suppression efforts. Presently, Connecticut stands as the only other state with a comparable law addressing PFAS in firefighters’ protective equipment.
During the signing ceremony at the statehouse, Governor Healey emphasized the insidious threat posed by “forever chemicals,” highlighting their silent yet detrimental impact on the health of firefighters and the broader community.
Effective January 2025, the new law mandates that manufacturers and sellers of personal protective equipment containing PFAS substances provide written notification to purchasers at the point of sale, disclosing the presence of PFAS in firefighting gear. Furthermore, they are required to provide an explanation for the inclusion of PFAS in the equipment.
Commencing in 2027, manufacturers and vendors of firefighters’ personal protective gear will be prohibited from knowingly selling products containing “intentionally-added PFAS” chemicals, referring to PFAS substances or products that generate PFAS chemicals during the manufacturing process.
The multifaceted jackets and pants worn by firefighters have emerged as a focal point in the ongoing battle against PFAS, pervasive in a range of products from food packaging to apparel. In a landmark move in 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed limits on these chemicals in drinking water for the first time.
Richard MacKinnon, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, hailed the new legislation as a crucial step towards reducing occupational cancer risks among firefighters, lauding it as the most robust language of its kind in the nation.
Citing the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), which identifies cancer as the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths, MacKinnon underscored the heightened cancer susceptibility that firefighters face compared to the general population.
Activists emphasize that while the new law represents a significant milestone, further actions are essential to minimize widespread exposure to PFAS. Clint Richmond, conservation chair of the Massachusetts Sierra Club, underscores the need to extend protections beyond firefighting gear to everyday products like clothing and furniture to ensure toxic-free environments and promote healthier lives.
Despite the progress made, unfinished legislation in Massachusetts sought to extend the ban on PFAS to various other products, including food packaging, children’s items, personal care products, textiles, and cookware. Additionally, the proposed bill aimed at prohibiting industrial discharges of PFAS into water sources and establishing a fund to facilitate testing and treatment of private wells and public water systems.
States such as Connecticut, Vermont, and Colorado have also taken robust measures to restrict the use of PFAS in various consumer products, highlighting a growing nationwide effort to address the pervasive threat of these harmful chemicals.
In a related development, a class action complaint has been filed in Connecticut on behalf of thousands of firefighters exposed to PFAS in their protective gear, targeting manufacturers and sellers of these chemicals and equipment.