The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is poised to vote on a groundbreaking ban on PFAS chemicals in firefighter equipment due to cancer concerns, with safety and availability of alternatives still in question.
Bigad Shaban, Michael Horn and Jeremy Carroll report for NBC.
In short:
- Firefighter gear containing PFAS, linked to cancer and other health issues, may soon be banned in San Francisco.
- Alternatives to PFAS gear are limited and potentially less safe, prompting concerns about trading one health risk for another.
- The city estimates the cost to replace all firefighter gear at about $12 million, partially funded by a FEMA grant.
Key quote:
"We're not willing to negotiate how long we will continue poisoning people."
— Adam Wood, vice president of the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation
Why this matters:
The move to ban PFAS in firefighting equipment has gained traction as firefighter unions and health advocates call for safer alternatives. This shift also reflects a growing acknowledgment within the regulatory landscape that the health risks associated with PFAS outweigh their functional benefits in safety gear. While the transition poses challenges, including the development and validation of PFAS-free alternatives, it underscores a broader commitment to occupational safety and public health.
Op-ed: After decades of disinformation, the US finally begins regulating PFAS chemicals.
