You know that Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) have been used for decades in the fire service. In the United States, the transition over to fluorine-free firefighting foams is now occurring. ‘The delay in taking action appears to have been caused…
Fire Departments stand down on the PFAS front
In Wisconsin, the Kenosha Fire Department stopped using a firefighting foam that contained PFAS chemicals known to contaminate ground water.1 The decision had been made in the fall of 2019. These types of foams are usually used in fighting fuel…
The blood of firefighters, the first line of defence
Firefighters have been unaware of the toxicity of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals: although the National Health and Nutrition Study (NHANES) has been testing Americans’ blood for PFAS chemicals since 1999.1 The programme of studies is designed by the US…
What is the deal with Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)?
Our first clue was when 3M announced that they were phasing out production of PFOA and PFOS in 2000. Per- and Polyfluorinated (PFAS) are synthetic chemical compounds, all very similar and extremely toxic. Persistence is key to their usefulness but…