Recent evidence states firefighters may be exposed to toxins from their wearable fire protection or turnout gear. Because firefighters must be protected from water and potential steam burns, their protective equipment is treated with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” PFAS is also found in firefighting foam and is linked to cancer, immune issues, asthma, and other complications.
How PFAS Causes Turnout Gear Injuries For Firefighters
A firefighter’s turnout gear has three different layers:
- The thermal layer, or the innermost layer that touches the skin
- The middle layer acts as a barrier to protect the thermal layer from becoming wet
- The outer shell, or the coating that resists heat from a fire
Concentrated amounts of fluorine were in the middle layer and the outer shell. Some of the PFAS in these layers can flake off, contaminating the thermal layer that makes contact with the skin. If the firefighter is sweating, some of these chemicals can transfer from the thermal layer into the skin. Exposure to PFAS has been associated with the development of four of the eight primary cancers most often diagnosed in firefighters:
- Testicular cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Prostate cancer
- Testicular cancer






