A team led by Heather Stapleton, an environmental chemist at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, published findings in Environmental Science & Technology Letters showing that firefighter turnout gear can contain possibly harmful chemicals. Firefighters rely on textiles treated to resist heat, water and oil, and many manufacturers have moved away from PFAS because of health concerns.
To investigate replacement materials, the researchers analysed turnout gear produced between 2013 and 2020 and newer gear from 2024 that was marketed as not treated with PFAS. They found PFAS in the older gear and only trace amounts in the newer gear, suggesting those traces came from environmental contamination rather than intentional treatment. However, every item tested contained brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and the highest BFR concentrations appeared in the newer non‑PFAS gear.
The most common BFR detected was decabromodiphenyl ethane, a chemical that has been linked to thyroid problems. It remains unclear whether the BFR levels in gear increase firefighters’ exposure or cause particular health outcomes. The authors urge more research on BFRs and other replacement chemicals and call for greater manufacturer transparency so fire departments can weigh risks and choose gear more safely.
- PFAS phased out by some manufacturers
- Questions about replacement chemicals
- Need for more exposure and health studies
Difficult words
- turnout gear — protective clothing that firefighters wear during incidents
- brominated flame retardant — chemical added to materials to reduce fire riskbrominated flame retardants
- decabromodiphenyl ethane — a specific brominated chemical used as flame retardant
- contamination — presence of unwanted substances in the environment
- exposure — contact with a chemical or harmful substance
- transparency — clear information from companies about their products
- manufacturer — company that makes or supplies productsmanufacturers
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How should a fire department balance the risk of PFAS exposure against the risks from replacement chemicals when choosing new gear?
- What specific information from manufacturers would help departments weigh risks and choose gear more safely?
- Which types of studies (for example exposure monitoring or health outcome research) do you think are most important to understand risks for firefighters, and why?
Related articles
Wastewater surveillance reveals antibiotic resistance across Indian cities
A study of sewage from four Indian cities found many antibiotic resistance genes and similar resistance patterns. The 2025 National Action Plan and experts promote wider wastewater surveillance, but critics warn of weak implementation.
Certain infant formula fats linked to early liver fat
An animal study using newborn pigs found that formulas high in medium-chain fats from coconut oil led to faster liver fat accumulation than formulas with long-chain animal fats. Researchers say this finding is not a reason to stop using formula.
New oral Listeria vaccine shows promise against colorectal cancer
Researchers report a modified oral vaccine made from Listeria that primes immune cells in the gut and limits tumor growth in mice. The vaccine worked best when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors and caused few side effects.
