Forest Service Knew Firefighter Gear Contained 'Forever Chemicals' for Years, Stayed Silent

United States - Ekhbary News Agency

Forest Service Knew Firefighter Gear Contained 'Forever Chemicals' for Years, Stayed Silent

Internal correspondence secured by ProPublica has unveiled that officials within the U.S. Forest Service were fully aware that the gear worn by wildland firefighters contained hazardous chemicals known as 'forever chemicals' for years prior to the agency's public acknowledgment of the matter. These substances, chemically identified as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been linked to a wide spectrum of serious health issues, including an increased risk of certain cancers, developmental delays in children, and adverse effects on the immune and endocrine systems.

Historically, PFAS chemicals were extensively used in treating the heavy-duty gear of municipal firefighters to impart water and oil repellency, thereby enhancing their effectiveness in demanding work environments. However, federal agencies had remained notably quiet regarding whether these hazardous compounds were also present in the lighter, heat-resistant clothing specifically utilized in wildland firefighting operations.

In February 2024, amidst ProPublica's reporting on the dangers faced by wildland firefighters, including cancer risks, the news organization directly queried both the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior about the presence of PFAS in federal wildland firefighting gear. The responses from both agencies were nearly identical, stating they lacked 'specific measured concentration data showing that PFAS is contained in protective clothing and gear.'

However, the email correspondence obtained by ProPublica paints a starkly different picture. The exchanges show that government officials were alerted to the presence of PFAS in pants used by wildland firefighters as early as 2021. Furthermore, in April 2022, a senior Forest Service official posed a question to colleagues regarding the agency's obligation to inform firefighters about the detection of PFAS in their equipment.

According to the content of these emails, the agency opted against immediately disseminating this critical information to the affected personnel. Instead, they chose to await the outcomes of an ongoing study investigating the potential for PFAS absorption through the skin. This decision has ignited questions about the agency's priorities and its commitment to the health and safety of its workforce.

These emails were released last week in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed in 2022 by George Broyles, a former Forest Service employee. Broyles, who dedicated years to studying smoke exposure among firefighters and has repeatedly voiced concerns about related health risks, initiated this request to bring the issue to light. The agency's years-long silence, despite internal knowledge of PFAS presence, represents a breach of trust and raises profound concerns about the measures government agencies take to protect frontline workers.

PFAS are synthetic chemicals renowned for their exceptional resistance to heat, water, and oil, making them a staple in numerous consumer and industrial products. However, their chemical stability means they persist in the environment without easily breaking down, accumulating in the bodies of humans and animals, and leading to severe long-term health consequences. These include thyroid dysfunction, elevated cholesterol levels, reduced vaccine efficacy, and an increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers.

The revelation that the U.S. Forest Service possessed prior knowledge and maintained a lack of transparency casts a shadow of doubt on how government agencies handle occupational health and safety issues, particularly when dealing with substances that can have devastating health impacts. Public health advocates and firefighter organizations are now calling for thorough investigations and accountability for the agencies responsible for this lapse, emphasizing the need for clear protocols to ensure transparency and protect firefighters' health moving forward.

This information emerges at a time of escalating concerns about the widespread presence of PFAS in the environment, water, and food, fueling increased demands for stricter regulations on their use. The Forest Service's withholding of vital information regarding firefighter exposure to these chemicals serves as a stark warning to governments and regulatory bodies about the urgent necessity for greater transparency and accountability in managing chemical risks.

Ekhbary News Agency