Two New Hampshire communities are taking major chemical manufacturers to court, arguing that equipment meant to protect firefighters may instead have exposed them to dangerous chemicals linked to cancer.
Filed by the City of Keene and the Town of Londonderry, the proposed class-action lawsuit contends that manufacturers, including 3M and DuPont, kept selling protective gear despite known risks of "forever chemical" contamination and did not warn the firefighters expected to wear it.
Here's what to know
As Boston 25 News reported, Keene and Londonderry brought the proposed case in federal court against 3M, DuPont, and other chemical and firefighter gear companies, accusing them of knowingly exposing firefighters to PFAS, often called "forever chemicals."
These man-made chemicals in turnout gear degrade very slowly, allowing them to remain in both the environment and the human body for years.
According to the proposed lawsuit, PFAS were used for decades in firefighter gear components such as moisture barriers, protective fabrics, and water-repellent treatments, and the companies did not adequately warn fire departments about the possible health risks tied to turnout gear containing the chemicals.
More background
In the complaint, the municipalities argue that the PFAS-containing products helped drive higher cancer rates among firefighters.
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Firefighters are especially vulnerable to poisoning by these products, as alleged in the complaint, because "when exposed to high heat, PFAS can off-gase and/or degrade into highly mobile and toxic particles, increasing the risk of PFAS exposure via dermal absorption, ingestion, and inhalation."
Keene and Londonderry are now seeking damages and other relief on behalf of municipalities that purchased the gear.
Where can I learn more?
PFAS concerns tied to firefighter gear have also prompted policy changes and legal action outside New Hampshire.
• Several states moved to ban PFAS in firefighting gear as cancer concerns reshape department purchasing.
• EPA records described a chronic PFAS threat tied to firefighting chemicals for decades.
• New Jersey lawmakers approved a firefighting foam ban after years of PFAS health warnings.
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