Tests show high level of 'forever chemicals' in Montreal firefighter bunker gear
CBC
Safety equipment meant to shield firefighters from danger may be increasing their risk of cancer and premature death.
Tests conducted at Université de Montréal's environmental chemistry laboratory for Radio-Canada's Enquête revealed high levels of PFAS in the textiles that make up a firefighter's bunker gear, the clothing they wear when they respond to calls.
The bunker gear protects firefighters from flames, heat and chemical spills. It is made up of three different layers. All three, including the one in direct contact with firefighters' skin, were found to be imbued with PFAS.
Also known as "forever chemicals," PFAS are a group of chemicals associated with an increased risk of developing certain cancers and liver damage, as well as negatively impacting the immune system. They persist in the environment and the human body.
"We are talking about textiles with very, very, very high levels of PFAS exposure," said Sébastien Sauvé, a chemistry professor at the university.
He said the level of PFAS detected in the bunker gear was equivalent to toxic waste.
"We think of this equipment as something that protects us when we go fight fires," said Chris Ross, president of the Montreal Firefighters Association.
But he wonders if that gear contributes to cancer cases among union members.
While some North American cities are moving to replace gear containing PFAS, Montreal has not yet made that commitment.
According to recent data published by the Montreal Firefighters Association, 77 Montreal firefighters have died from work-related cancer in the past 15 years, while three have died in action.
Montreal firefighter deaths account for 90 per cent of all firefighter deaths from occupational diseases in Quebec.
And firefighters are about 10 per cent more likely than the general population to be diagnosed with cancer, according to Health Canada.
The chemical cocktails that are emitted when modern homes burn, as well as foams used to extinguish fires, were long seen as the biggest hazards to firefighters.
But firefighters increasingly worry that PFAS, which make firefighting gear more resistant to abrasion, heat and moisture, could also be hurting them.
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