Firefighters around the country are concerned that gear laced with PFAS, a group of toxic industrial compounds, could be a reason for cancer among ranks.
Chemicals giant 3M agrees to pay $10.3 billion to settle lawsuits over the contamination of drinking water systems with potentially harmful compounds.One defendant in the lawsuits, 3M Co., said in a statement that it “manufactures a variety of personal protective equipment products that meet nationally recognized standards to help protect first responders facing high-hazard environments.
“Based on the body of available and reliable science, Gore concludes its firefighting products are not the cause of cancers impacting firefighters, who by the nature of their important work are sometimes exposed to cancer-causing chemicals from fires,” said company spokesperson Amy Calhoun. Gear makers told Diane Cotter there were only trace amounts of PFAS and it was safe. “I was attacked by firefighters when discussing the idea thatCotter sent patches of gear to Graham Peaslee, a University of Notre Dame professor who studies PFAS, for testing.
But Carignan is still investigating how much the gear contributed to increased levels of PFAS in the blood and whether PFAS exposure may be causing or contributing to cancer.Firefighters take action
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