From Kathy Crosby-Bell, President, Last Call Foundation

Disposition of Fluorine

One of the roles of Last Call Foundation is to provide funding for worthy research regarding anything impacting firefighter health and safety. A firefighter, Paul Cotter suffering job related, career ending cancer, and his wife, Diane Cotter came to LCF some years ago seeking funding for research related to suspected carcinogens (PFAS & PFOA) in the manufacturing of turnout (bunker) gear.

Last Call Foundation agreed to provide the needed funds, and with the guidance of Diane Cotter put together a committee of knowledgeable, informed professionals to digest and disseminate the outcome of the research conducted at Notre Dame by Nuclear Physicist Dr. Graham Peaslee. 

Published in the summer of 2020 Dr. Peaslee’s research (link to research below) proved what Mrs. Cotter suspected, chemical coatings on bunker gear contain dangerous levels of known carcinogens. In my humble opinion not only should this be fully disclosed to every fire fighter, but it should be classified as an unnecessary exposure.  The uproar in the fire service was deafening, first denials by manufacturers (sadly supported by many fire fighters) then mudslinging, then painfully slow, acknowledgment by the fire service.

In response to the certain knowledge that PFAS and PFOA are playing a significant role in the cancer rates in the fire service, and with the full support of the rank-and-file IAFF General President Ed Kelly filed Tentative Interim Amendment 1594, in 2021, regarding NFPA 1971, the Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, 2018 Edition. The NFPA technical committee, quickly followed by the standards council, closed ranks and voted to deny the TIA regarding NFPA 1971. 

This research confirms and expands on Dr. Peaslee’s research.  Perhaps it is time for the fire service to write its own spec’s regarding turnout gear? Firefighters health indeed their lives are not, cannot and as the NFPA rejection of TIA 1594 clearly shows should never have been at the mercy of the self-interests of the NFPA. Sadly I’ve come to understand why so many fire fighters consider the NFPA “the manufacturers publishing company”.

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Common sense says, for now ALWAYS WEAR YOUR TURNOUT GEAR IN A FIRE. It will protect you there. However, do not wear turnouts when they are not needed! Meanwhile, the best advise I’ve heard is - demand safety protocols for handling turnout gear and fight like hell until you get new turnout gear, manufactured without chemical carcinogen treatment.

And by the way thank Diane Cotter!