Firefighter protective gear is designed to protect the people wearing it. But research has identified a complicated question for fire departments: some of the textiles used to make that gear contain chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
These chemicals are used in a wide range of products, including materials designed to resist water. In firefighter gear, those properties can serve an important protective purpose. At the same time, the presence of PFAS has raised questions about potential exposure and long-term health effects.
For fire chiefs, health and safety officers, and personal protective equipment (PPE) officers, the issue requires a measured response. The research establishes that PFAS are present in certain firefighter gear textiles. It does not, by itself, establish the health risk attributable to those chemicals in a particular garment or show that a specific cleaning method eliminates that risk.
Understanding what researchers have found, what they have not yet established, and how gear care fits into exposure management can help departments make better-informed decisions.
What are PFAS?
PFAS is the abbreviation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large group of synthetic chemicals used in many industrial and consumer applications.
Some PFAS have been used in treatments that make materials resistant to water, oil, or stains. Those properties help explain why certain PFAS-related chemistries have been used in textiles, including some materials used to manufacture firefighter protective equipment.
PFAS is not one chemical with one set of properties. The group includes many different substances, and their behavior and health effects can vary.
Some PFAS are persistent in the environment, which is why they are often called “forever chemicals.” Certain PFAS have been associated with adverse health effects, including some cancers. However, those findings cannot automatically be applied to every chemical in the PFAS group or to every possible exposure scenario.
That distinction matters when interpreting research about firefighter PPE.
What has NIST found in firefighter turnout gear?
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has conducted research to characterize PFAS in firefighter protective clothing and better understand potential exposure sources.
In its 2023 Technical Note 2248, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in New Firefighter Turnout Gear Textiles, NIST examined PFAS in textiles used in new structural firefighting coats and pants.
The researchers found measurable amounts of PFAS in the tested materials, with substantial variation among textile samples. The findings suggested that the amount of PFAS in new turnout gear can differ depending on the specific textiles used in manufacturing.
This research matters because it shows that potential PFAS exposure is not necessarily limited to substances deposited on gear during a fire. Some PFAS may already be present in the materials themselves.
However, the study measured chemical concentrations in selected textiles. It did not establish how much PFAS a firefighter absorbs while wearing a particular garment, nor did it determine the health risk attributable to those textiles.
PFAS have also been found in gloves, hoods, and wildland gear
In December 2024, NIST published additional research examining PFAS in structural firefighting gloves and hoods, as well as wildland firefighter clothing.
The study examined 32 textile samples and identified measurable PFAS in 25 of them. Concentrations varied considerably across the samples, with different patterns observed in gloves, hoods, and wildland gear.
The researchers found that PFAS levels were generally low in the hood textiles tested, while some glove and wildland gear samples contained higher concentrations.
This expanded the research beyond structural firefighting coats and pants to other protective garments, including items that contact skin more directly.
It also reinforces an important point for PPE officers: gear is not one uniform material. Different components may contain different textiles, and PFAS concentrations can vary significantly among them.
Does the presence of PFAS in gear mean firefighters face a health risk?
The presence of PFAS establishes a potential exposure source. It does not, by itself, quantify a firefighter’s exposure or establish the resulting health risk.
NIST has explicitly stated that its research on PFAS in firefighter gear does not assess the health risks attributable to the chemicals found in that equipment. The studies provide measurements that toxicologists, epidemiologists, and other researchers can use to investigate those questions.
Several questions remain important:
- Which PFAS are present in a particular garment?
- How much of each substance is present?
- Under what conditions might those substances be released from the material?
- Can a firefighter absorb them through skin contact or other exposure pathways?
- How much does gear contribute relative to other occupational and environmental sources?
- What health effects, if any, can be attributed to that specific exposure?
These are not minor details. They determine whether the presence of a chemical translates into a meaningful exposure and what that exposure means for health.
The appropriate response is neither to dismiss the findings nor to claim more certainty than the research supports. PFAS in firefighter gear is a legitimate subject for continued study, careful exposure management, and informed equipment decisions.
What does wear and tear change?
Protective gear experiences repeated use, movement, laundering, heat, and environmental exposure. Researchers are investigating how these conditions affect measurable PFAS in gear textiles.
In May 2026, NIST published Technical Note 2375, examining PFAS in structural firefighter gloves and hoods and wildland gear after simulated abrasion, thermal stress, or weathering.
The results varied by equipment and treatment. Measured PFAS concentrations increased in some glove and hood textiles after certain stress tests, while measured concentrations decreased in wildland textiles after abrasion and weathering. The researchers noted that these changes may reflect chemical transformations or changes in how readily PFAS could be extracted from the materials for measurement.
These findings do not mean that every worn garment releases more PFAS or that a particular service history predicts a specific health risk. They demonstrate that the relationship between textile condition and measurable PFAS is complex.
For departments, the practical takeaway is to maintain equipment according to manufacturer instructions and applicable standards, track its condition, and follow emerging research rather than make assumptions based on a garment’s age or appearance alone.
Can cleaning remove PFAS from firefighter gear?
Cleaning may reduce certain contaminants, but its effectiveness depends on the substance, the textile, and the process used.
PFAS are a large chemical group. Results for one compound or cleaning process should not be generalized to all PFAS or all protective materials.
When evaluating a cleaning or decontamination service, departments should ask:
- Which specific PFAS were tested?
- What gear materials were evaluated?
- What treatment process was used?
- What concentrations were measured before and after treatment?
- Were the results independently verified?
- What limitations did the testing identify?
For example, Emergency Technical Decon publishes results for its Liquid CO₂+ process that include removal of 84% of tested PFAS. That figure is specific to its tested process and the substances evaluated. It does not establish that every PFAS compound can be removed at the same rate or that every liquid carbon dioxide (CO₂) system performs identically.
Cleaning should be considered one part of a broader PPE-care and exposure-management program, not proof that a garment is free of PFAS or that all health risks have been eliminated.
What should fire departments do now?
Departments do not need to wait for every scientific question to be settled before maintaining sensible equipment-care practices. They can take practical steps while recognizing the limits of current evidence.
Maintain established PPE-care procedures
Follow the applicable National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and equipment manufacturer instructions. Ensure firefighters know how to handle contaminated gear, arrange appropriate cleaning, and store equipment safely.
Reduce opportunities for contamination to spread
Use established procedures for removing, transporting, and storing contaminated equipment. Keep gear handling separate from areas where people eat, sleep, or spend extended periods whenever department procedures call for that separation.
Evaluate cleaning claims carefully
Do not choose a process based solely on broad claims about PFAS. Request evidence that identifies the chemicals tested, the materials treated, and the results measured.
Follow developments in research
NIST continues to study PFAS in firefighter equipment. Its research provides a basis for improving measurement, understanding potential exposure sources, and evaluating future equipment designs.
Departments should rely on credible technical research and current standards rather than treating preliminary findings as definitive answers about health risk.
Where advanced decontamination access fits
Understanding PFAS is part of a larger conversation about contamination in firefighter gear. PFAS are not the only substances firefighters may encounter, and the presence of PFAS in protective materials does not mean every exposure comes from the gear itself.
Routine washing remains essential. Advanced decontamination provides another option for departments to evaluate based on their equipment, exposure profile, and the evidence supporting a particular process.
For some departments, the obstacle is cost rather than a lack of interest in better gear care.
The Afterburn Foundation helps qualifying fire departments access advanced PPE decontamination when cost stands in the way. Afterburn is an access and funding organization, not a manufacturer or cleaning facility. It connects documented department need with philanthropic funding and qualified independent service providers.
Its annual sponsorship model is built around a clear commitment:
$500. One firefighter. One year.
A $500 sponsorship provides one firefighter with one year of funded access to qualifying advanced PPE decontamination services. The standard annual model is designed around two advanced CO₂ decontamination cycles and one annual advanced inspection, with flexibility to fund services according to actual need.
Sponsorship funds are pooled, allowing services to vary according to equipment, exposure, geography, and logistics. This is a funding model for access to qualifying services, not a guarantee that every contaminant will be removed or that a particular health outcome will follow.
If your department wants to evaluate advanced decontamination but cost is a barrier, Afterburn offers a way to seek assistance.
Frequently asked questions
What does PFAS mean in firefighter turnout gear?
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large group of synthetic chemicals. NIST research has identified PFAS in textiles used in structural firefighting coats and pants, gloves, hoods, and wildland gear.
Why are PFAS used in firefighter protective equipment?
Certain PFAS-related chemistries have been used in textile treatments that provide water and other resistance properties. Those properties can serve a protective function, but the presence of PFAS has prompted research into potential exposure and alternative materials.
Does NIST research prove PFAS in turnout gear causes cancer?
No. NIST’s studies characterize PFAS in gear textiles but do not establish the health risks attributable specifically to PFAS in that equipment. Some individual PFAS have been associated with adverse health effects, but gear-specific exposure and risk require further study.
Can washing remove PFAS from firefighter gear?
Cleaning performance varies by the PFAS compound, textile, and process. Departments should seek process-specific test results and should not assume that ordinary washing or a specialized decontamination service removes every PFAS compound.
Can Afterburn help pay for advanced PPE decontamination?
Yes. The Afterburn Foundation helps qualifying fire departments access advanced PPE decontamination when cost stands in the way. Departments can apply for funding to have their needs evaluated.
Better decontamination shouldn’t depend on your department’s budget.
Afterburn helps qualifying fire departments access advanced PPE decontamination when cost stands in the way.
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