Profiles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in firefighter turnout gear and their impact on exposure assessment.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Bench material analysis of textile samples without human subjects (by design analogy, not clinical CEBM).
PubMed 41114643 · doi:10.1039/d5em00621j
What was done
Researchers measured the concentrations and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across textile layers (outer layer, moisture barrier, and thermal liner) and anatomical locations in firefighter turnout gear. They analyzed fabric swatches taken from different areas of jackets and pants, and characterized PFAS profiles across five firefighter jackets and four pants manufactured between 2008 and 2019.
What was found
In pants outer layers, bottom back swatches showed higher perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) concentrations than knee, ankle, or groin swatches. In jacket outer layers, neck swatches had lower PFAA concentrations than back, elbow, and underarm swatches. A 2019 jacket in service for one year had the lowest PFAS concentration at 284 ng g⁻¹. Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs; n = 6, 8, 10) were detected in all samples, accounting for >50% of total PFAS content. PFOS was predominantly found in older jackets and PFBS in newer jackets. In the moisture barrier, the highest FTOH concentrations occurred in unused gear (manufactured 2011), with concentrations increasing with time since manufacture; thermal liners from unused gear had the lowest PFAS concentrations.
Why it matters
Demonstrates that PFAS concentrations in firefighter turnout gear vary substantially by layer, anatomical site, and age, transitioning from legacy PFOS to short-chain PFBS. These spatial and temporal variations indicate that sampling a single gear location is insufficient for accurate occupational exposure modeling.
Limits
The sample size was very small (five jackets, four pants), limiting generalizability across manufacturers and fabric treatments. The study measured textile concentrations in vitro and did not assess actual human biomarker concentrations, dermal uptake rates, or off-gassing inhalation exposures.
Cited by
- supports PFAS chemicals are added to stain- and water-resistant fabrics and clothing, including flight attendant uniforms, firefighter gear, sportswear, and children's school uniforms.