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WASHINGTON, D.C. – New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY) is looking to ban a chemical firefighters use she said not only pollutes local drinking water, but this chemical could cause cancer or other chronic diseases for our firefighters.
“Imagine being willing to risk your life and dive headlong into a fire to rescue innocent people only to be poisoned by the very tools you use to protect yourself,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY). “That is precisely what our nation’s firefighters have to face every single day when the foam they are using has PFAS.”
The Senator is introducing legislation that would ban PFAS chemicals used in firefighting foam.
Firefighters have used this chemical for training and at airports for decades.
She said there is a growing body of scientific research that shows links between PFAS exposures and a wide range of health problems like weaker immune systems, cancer, reduced fertility and more.
This would be a phased-out approach to banning this chemical, with a goal of banning it entirely by 2024.
New York state has already banned PFAS in firefighting foam but the Senator is looking to make this a national ban to protect all firefighters.
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