Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) in Firefighter Turnout Gear: Two Chemical Classes of Concern to Consider

Textiles used in firefighting turnout gear were previously treated or manufactured with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to provide water and oil repellency, help pass flammability requirements, and provide increased breathability for heat relief. Due to concerns about potential exposure and health risks, manufacturers developed non-PFAS-treated textiles; however, new chemistries remain undisclosed, particularly in moisture barriers that replaced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). To probe new chemistries that may be used in these textiles, this study tested 12 used turnouts manufactured between 2013 and 2024, including three advertised as non-PFAS-treated. All three layers of each garment were separately tested for 52 PFAS and 19 brominated flame retardants (BFRs) using mass spectrometry and for total fluorine and bromine using combustion ion chromatography (CIC). BFRs were found in significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.01) compared to PFAS, and in all three layers of the garments tested. Notably, non-ePTFE moisture barriers contained decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), a BFR, at concentrations ranging from 7,290 to 10,600 ng/cm², indicating intentional addition rather than contamination during use. CIC and nontargeted GC-HRMS analyses of the moisture barriers also confirmed that nine garments from one manufacturer had intentional applications of polymeric BFRs while three garments from another manufacturer did not. These results highlight a need to study BFR exposures among firefighters.

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Author Heather M. Stapleton Environmental Natural Science