A new peer-reviewed study published recently in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology highlighting Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) content in fire station dust. The study was conducted in 15 fire stations throughout Massachusetts, including Boston. The result of this dust study provides further evidence and credibility to a fire gear PFAS content study published last year by Dr. Graham Peaslee of Notre Dame in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. If you’re just catching up with this topic; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, is a class of chemicals, described as “forever chemicals”, which never fully breakdown in the environment ultimately contaminating water sources and the food chain. These chemicals have been found in Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) and recently measured at very high levels in fire turnout gear. The United States armed forces has been investigating PFAS water table contamination at military bases through the United States related to firefighting activities which appear to be causing cancer clusters. The health science surrounding PFAS exposure appears clear at times but also fuzzy in some areas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Studies indicate that PFOA and PFOS can cause reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, … Continue reading Harvard University Discovers Fire Station Dust Loaded with PFAS in Published Study