A Kentucky fire department has become the first in the country to fully adopt SoyFoam, a biodegradable, soy-based firefighting foam designed to replace toxic PFAS-laden products.
Roberta Burkhart reports for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In short:
- AFFF, a widely used firefighting foam, contains PFAS chemicals that persist in the environment and pose health risks. SoyFoam, made from U.S.-grown soybeans, is biodegradable and free of these harmful substances.
- The product was developed by Cross Plains Solutions in Georgia and has earned GreenScreen’s gold certification, a top rating for chemical safety. It can be used on both brush and fuel fires without requiring new equipment.
- Limitations remain: SoyFoam is not currently effective on ethanol-fueled fires, meaning departments near ethanol transport routes may need to maintain additional products.
Key quote:
“It’s nice to have something that’s actually effective on the fires that we need it to be, but also is not killing the people that are using it, or killing the people that it’s supposed to be protecting.”
— Dave Garlie, chief technology officer, Cross Plains Solutions
Why this matters:
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been used for decades in firefighting foams and other industrial products. These synthetic compounds resist heat and water, but they don’t break down naturally and accumulate in the environment and the human body. PFAS exposure has been linked to a range of health concerns, including cancers, immune system disruption, and developmental issues in children. Firefighters face especially high risks through direct contact with these foams and contaminated gear. Replacing PFAS-based materials with biodegradable, nontoxic options like SoyFoam could sharply reduce long-term contamination of soil and drinking water sources, especially in rural areas where runoff can enter food and water systems.
Related EHN coverage: PFAS-free firefighting foams: Are they safer?
