Understanding the Risks of Forever Chemicals

Occupational cancer is the number one cause of line-of-duty deaths for fire fighters. Exposure to dangerous forever chemicals like PFAS has been shown to cause cancers.

What Are PFAS?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) include more than 12,000 synthetic chemicals not found in nature. They’re often referred to as “forever chemicals” given their persistence in the environment and human body.

PFAS have been used in fire fighting foam and turnout gear for decades. All three layers of fire fighter turnout gear contain PFAS and pose an occupational risk of illness.

Studies link PFAS exposure to the development of serious health effects, including cancer, behavioral development, metabolic, circulatory, digestive, endocrine, immune, neurological and reproductive system problems.

PFAS in Turnout Gear

Because of the toxic nature of PFAS, bunker gear can put members at unnecessary risk — yet until recent and significant revisions to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) standards on structural and proximity firefighting, PFAS materials were effectively required in U.S. and Canadian fire fighter turnout gear to satisfy a stringent UV light degradation test. The UV light test introduced in 2007 effectively required the use of PFAS materials in the moisture barriers of fire fighter PPE, making it difficult to transition to PFAS-free alternatives as no other materials could satisfy the 40 hour light exposure criteria in the standard.

The NFPA Standard 1971 Section 8.62 required bunker gear to pass a 40-hour ultraviolet light degradation test, which effectively necessitated the use of PFAS in turnout gear, because no other materials could pass this stringent test. This specific requirement was a significant impediment to the development of PPE which doesn’t contain forever chemicals.

The PFAS Law Firms were at the forefront of the fight to change NFPA Standard 1971 Section 8.26 to keep IAFF members safe. On March 16, 2023, we sued the NFPA on behalf of the IAFF seeking change to the regulatory standards and systems. In October 2024, a new consolidated standard, NFPA 1970 (2025), was introduced.

The adoption of NFPA 1970 (2025) represents a significant step toward addressing concerns related to PFAS in fire fighter gear.

Changes implemented via NFPA 1970 (2025) include the creation of a list of restricted substances for manufacturers, allows manufacturers to issue a certification on the total fluorine level in their gear or components, provide stringent testing requirements are met, and significantly revised the UV light degradation testing criteria applicable to the moisture barrier, which had effectively required the use of toxic PFAS in bunker gear.

PFAS in Fire Fighting Foam

Fire fighters are exposed to PFAS when using Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) to suppress high-intensity and liquid fuel fires. Exposure to PFAS chemicals is linked to serious health risks, including various diseases and cancers. These chemicals have harmed fire fighters, military personnel, first responders, and entire communities who were unknowingly exposed through contaminated groundwater, workplace exposure or other means.

The claims related to AFFF have been consolidated under the In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2873) in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. If you were exposed to AFFF and later developed kidney (renal) cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer or thyroid disease, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.

What Kinds of Disease Are Caused by PFAS?

PFAS have been linked to several serious diseases. We are currently accepting cases related to these:

  • Kidney Cancer (renal)
  • Liver Cancer
  • Thyroid Cancer
  • Thyroid Disease
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Ulcerative Colitis

What Is the IAFF Doing About PFAS?

The IAFF took on the fight, filed a lawsuit against the NFPA, and created a pathway for PFAS-free turnout gear. The IAFF is also lobbying Congress and the Trump administration to provide funds and resources to develop next-generation, PFAS-free gear and support fire fighters.

The PFAS Law Firms were at the forefront of the fight to change this to keep IAFF members safe. On March 16, 2023, we filed a lawsuit against the NFPA on behalf of the IAFF to seek change to the NFPA standards.

AFFF Lawsuit Update for Fire Fighters

This update is for fire fighters interested in the AFFF (aqueous fire fighting foam) litigation, specifically those who are personal injury plaintiffs in the AFFF MDL (multidistrict litigation).

Is PFAS Law Firms accepting new cases for the MDL?

On August 15, 2025, the Court ordered that all unfiled cases be filed within the Filing Facilitation Window, which closed on September 10, 2025. PFAS Law Firms is no longer filing new cases in the MDL in compliance with this order.

What if I file a case now, after the deadline?

If you independently file a case now:

  • You have 90 days to serve on Defendants named in the complaint a complete set of medical records that document diagnosis, management, and treatment of your alleged injury.
  • You have 120 days from the date of the independent complaint being filed to serve on Defendants named in the complaint expert reports that support your allegation of general causation (that PFAS is capable of causing your disease type) and specific causation (that PFAS from Defendants’ products substantially contributed to your disease) for the specific injury you allege.
  • This is considered an independent filing, outside of the MDL facilitation window which is now closed.

Are Fire Fighters Still Represented?

Yes. PFAS Law Firms continues to represent hundreds of individual personal injury cases for fire fighters.

IAFF leadership and members can be reassured that these filed cases remain active and supported. PFAS Law Firms also continues to advise IAFF leadership on this litigation, legislative efforts, and scientific developments.

What are the next steps?

Stay in touch with your legal team for updates and guidance.

PFAS Law Firms continue to advise IAFF leadership on legislative, litigation, and scientific developments regarding PFAS compounds in AFFF and bunker gear. PFAS Law Firms also continues to represent individual fire fighters with pending lawsuits in the MDL and advocate for those harmed by exposure to PFAS.

NFPA Standard Revisions: What’s Changed?

Since the filing of the IAFF’s now-concluded Massachusetts lawsuit, the NFPA has officially adopted three critical revisions as part of its development of a new consolidated standard, NFPA 1970. These changes are a direct result of fire fighters standing up, speaking out, and demanding safer equipment.

The IAFF’s historic lawsuit led the Massachusetts Superior Court to rule on the NFPA’s Motion to Dismiss: “the Court is not persuaded by NFPA’s assertion that it had no duty to refrain from adopting manufacturing standards, that if allowed, could harm or kill people.” It was only after this legal victory that NFPA changed its standards for bunker gear.

These pivotal changes include:

  • Elimination of the UV light degradation test for moisture barriers, which had previously necessitated the use of PFAS in bunker gear
  • Establishment of limits on acceptable chemical substances for gear manufacturers
  • New labeling requirements to improve transparency and safety

With NFPA standard revisions now in place, the focus shifts to:

  • Ensuring that PFAS-free gear enters the marketplace
  • Confirming that gear promoted as PFAS-free does not, in fact, contain those cancer-causing compounds
  • Evaluating additional opportunities for revisions to standards, regulations, and legislation, which will further reduce PFAS-hazards to the fire service community

How to Limit PFAS Exposure

The time has long passed for occupational cancer to be an acceptable “part of the job.” The IAFF encourages all fire fighters to do what they can to limit and minimize exposure to the extent possible, by doing the following:

  • Keep gear in a sealed container or bag during transport
  • Clean apparatus cabs regularly after every fire
  • Wash your hands after handling turnout gear
  • Replace legacy gear with PFAS-free options once available
  • Use only for its intended design combating structural or proximity fires
  • Help spread the message at your Local level

Our three firms are available to provide legal representation to pursue compensation on behalf of qualified fire fighters with cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does turnout gear contain PFAS?

PFAS are a major constituent of the moisture barrier, and they have been used in durable water repellent (DWR) finishes that provide water and oil repellency which have been applied to the outer shell, some thermal liners, and portions of the moisture barrier laminate.

Changes in the 2025 edition of the NFPA standard creates a list of restricted substances for manufacturers and removes the moisture barrier UV light degradation test, which had effectively required the use of toxic PFAS in bunker gear.

Section 8.62 of NFPA Standard 1971 requires a light degradation resistance test for moisture barrier materials, which is preventing PFAS-free moisture barrier alternatives from coming to market.

Is PFAS-free gear ready?

Next-generation, PFAS-free gear is, at present, being researched and developed by a number of different manufacturers, but it is not commercially available. At present, any bunker gear that is commercially available in North America and which purports to be “PFAS-free” likely requires independent, third-party analysis to assess the veracity of such claims.

What can be done at the local level to prevent exposure?

Local as well as state/provincial health and safety and wellness/fitness committees should help spread the message of the PFAS Joint Statement, including the precautionary recommendations. Local leadership should also encourage members not to use turnout gear other than for the specific hazards it is designed to protect from.

The IAFF Government Affairs Department has assisted several state affiliates in developing state-level legislation to ban PFAS-laden fire fighting foams, require PFAS-awareness labels on new bunker gear, and share points that can hopefully limit fire fighters’ exposures to PFAS.

Any affiliate interested in developing and promoting similar legislation in their state is encouraged to contact the IAFF Government Affairs Department for assistance.