In a major victory to protect fire fighters from carcinogens, the Massachusetts Legislature has passed a bill banning the use of PFAS chemicals in fire fighter protective gear. Governor Maura Healey is expected to sign the bill into law in the next few days.
“This was an all-hands effort from the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM),” PFFM President Rich MacKinnon said. “During our meetings at the Statehouse, lawmakers told us time and again that they heard from fire fighters about the need to get PFAS out of our gear. We won’t stop until our fire fighters are safe from cancer.”
The new law will ban manufacturers from selling turnout gear manufactured with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — the toxic forever chemicals known as PFAS — by January 2027. It also requires all turnout gear containing PFAS to be clearly labeled by January 2025, ensuring transparency and allowing firefighters to make informed choices.
State Rep. James Hawkins, who sponsored the House version of the bill, told the Telegram & Gazette that the passage of this legislation was a top priority.
“This is long overdue,” he said, acknowledging that IAFF data shows more than two-thirds of fire fighter line-of-duty deaths are caused by cancer. “I went to three fire fighter funerals in the same year. They were all way too young, and they were all cancer.”
The PFFM highlighted the devastating impacts of PFAS exposure, noting increases in testicular cancer among male fire fighters and reproductive health issues among female fire fighters.
“This is by far the strongest PFAS legislation in the nation. I’m proud of our members who continue to lead the way across the third district, lobbying for legislation to get toxins out of fire fighter gear,” 3rd District Vice President Jay Colbert said. “Too many fire fighters are dying from cancer. The more state houses that take this bold step of banning ban PFAS from gear, the more fire fighter lives will be saved.”
