Firefighters in Stamford and Old Mystic, Connecticut, have joined a federal lawsuit against companies like 3M and DuPont, alleging their protective gear contains potentially cancer-causing PFAS chemicals.
Jordan Nathaniel Fenster reports for CT Insider.
In short:
- Two more Connecticut fire departments have joined a class-action lawsuit against major manufacturers over PFAS chemicals in firefighter gear, citing health risks.
- The lawsuit, which includes local unions and the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association, claims manufacturers profited from gear laced with these "forever chemicals."
- The University of Notre Dame's research revealed PFAS can migrate from turnout gear to skin, raising concerns about cancer risks for firefighters.
Key quote:
"None of the firefighters included in the class action have any condition they are specifically linking to PFAS. They're just tired of feeling like they're potentially getting sick or exposing themselves to toxins every time they're putting on their gear and not having any legal action taken on their behalf."
— Ian Sloss, attorney at Silver Golub & Teitell
Why this matters:
PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer and other health issues, posing risks to firefighters using contaminated gear. Legal actions like this could pressure manufacturers to create safer protective equipment for first responders.
