The Boston City Council voted unanimously recently to hold a hearing on the phasing out of PFAS turnout gear for the Boston Fire Department (BFD).

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS or "forever chemicals," have been linked to cancer, and in 2024, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill from the State Legislature to phase out all PFAS gear in the state.

It was tough, however, because at the time, there was no other protective gear available on the market. And even now, the Last Call Foundation – set up to prevent firefighter deaths after the loss of Parkway Firefighters Michael Kennedy and Lt. Ed Walsh – found that supposedly PFAS-free gear that the Quincy Fire Department had obtained, in fact, had loads of the chemicals – https://gvimes.link/pfasturnout

Some arguments against non-PFAS turnout gear is that they are not as oil repellent, a serious concern in such a profession. But otherwise, there were few differences in performance – https://gvimes.link/testingpfas

But some of the chemicals in non-PFAS gear, has also been found to be harmful – https://gvimes.link/pfasfreedanger

District 7 City Councilor Miniard Culpepper called for the hearing originally, with co-sponsors District 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn and At-Large City Councilor Erin Murphy. Culpepper said he wants to get into the process of new gear as soon as possible.

“Every day, Boston firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our residents from immediate danger, but increasingly, we are learning that many firefighters are facing long-term dangers from the very equipment that is designed to keep them safe,” Culpepper said. “Studies have consistently shown that firefighters experience disproportionately high rates of occupational cancers, and PFAS chemicals have been identified as a significant concern in turnout gear and protective uniforms.”

Culpepper said experts have repeatedly stated that PFAS-free gear is preferable to the current alternative, and that the city should be moving towards it as soon as it can.

“Occupational safety experts and firefighter organizations have made it clear that as PFAS-free turnout gear becomes available, departments should move aggressively towards replacing legacy equipment containing harmful chemicals,” he said. “This hearing is about ensuring that the City of Boston is doing everything possible to protect the health and safety of our firefighters, not just in the moment of a fire emergency, but in the decades afterwards. Our firefighters should never have to choose between protection from immediate danger and protection from long-term illness.”

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Flynn said this issue was close to his family.

“My uncle Dennis was a Boston firefighter, a decorated Vietnam veteran, and he died at a young age,” he said.

Flynn said that health screening programs were also critical, as firefighters experience other hazards that include cardiovascular disease, traumatic stress, and repeated exposure to hazardous conditions.

“Critical health programs funded by the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant – including cancer screenings, body scans, wellness services – have already identified hundreds of high-risk cases of potentially life-threatening conditions through early detection,” he said. “But this body needs to be committed to ensuring funding is in the city budget, not just this year, but moving forward. For firefighters, and their families.”

Murphy said she is committed to using the hearing as an opportunity to make sure the council does what it can for the BFD.

“Whatever we can do to make sure our firefighters are safe, it’s the least we can do for them,” she said.