Statement From Last Call Foundation

Lawsuit filed by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey against major manufacturers of toxic “forever” PFAS chemicals

We are delighted to see that Attorney General Maura Healy has acted against the manufacturers of forever chemicals by filing suit against a host of manufacturers. However, we are left wondering why the suit does not mention firefighting bunker gear manufacturers.

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These same chemicals are used in the manufacture of bunker gear which is worn daily by our firefighters. Not long ago, Last Call Foundation funded a study at the University of Alabama led by Dr. Suzanne E. Lapi. The results showed an alarming rate of dermal absorption. Clearly, firefighters are being poisoned by the gear meant to protect them.

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Despite every effort of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) to request technical changes to the manufacturing requirements of bunker gear, neither the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) nor the Attorney General have demanded the removal of these chemicals from bunker gear.

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I’m here to tell you firefighter’s matter. Their health matters, and we won’t be quiet anymore!

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Firefighters do not want or need these forever chemicals in their gear. Yet they are forced by the inaction of the NFPA and now the failure of the Attorney General, to wear gear we know is made with carcinogenic forever chemicals into the super-heated environments of fires, where dermal absorption is exponentially greater.

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The cancer rates in the fire service cannot continue to be brushed aside or attributed to other exposures. The PFAS and PFOA in bunker gear is an unnecessary exposure that manufacturers have been hiding from firefighters for years. The dangers were first hidden, then denied, until finally the deadly deceit was exposed by a persistent firefighter’s wife.

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With respect Attorney General Healy, we believe it is incumbent upon you to act to protect these hard-working, dedicated professionals who protect all of us.

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Please add all bunker gear manufacturers to this lawsuit.