Representative Dan Kildee (D-Michigan), along with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), introduced on April 27 the PFAS Firefighter Protection Act to ban firefighting foam containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
By banning firefighting foam containing PFAS, also known as aqueous film forming foam or AFFF, this legislation would protect firefighters and drinking water from exposure to these toxic chemicals.
PFAS have been linked to certain cancers, thyroid disease, reproductive problems, decreased immune function in children, and other serious adverse health effects. Firefighters have been exposed to these chemicals for years through the use of firefighting foam and face a higher risk of developing cancer and other diseases.
“Harmful PFAS chemicals are a threat to our drinking water, firefighters and communities,” Kildee said. “It is time to stop spreading these harmful chemicals and ban the use of PFAS in firefighting foam.”
Congress has already passed legislation to remove PFAS-containing firefighting foam from being used at commercial airports and military installations. To better protect all firefighters, the PFAS Firefighter Protection Act would go a step further by:
- Banning the manufacturing, importation, and sale of all firefighting foam containing PFAS within two years of enactment.
- Setting firm deadlines for airports for prohibiting the use of PFAS firefighting foams. Current law states that the FAA shall not require airports to use firefighting foam that contains PFAS. This legislation would prohibit its use by 2024.
Experts estimate that the drinking water supplies of more than 200 million Americans are contaminated with PFAS. PFAS do not break down in the environment and have been found in groundwater and drinking water across the United States.
Click here to read the PFAS Firefighter Protection Act.
NGWA has long been an industry leader in providing PFAS research, education, and resources to the public and scientific communities. In 2017, NGWA published Groundwater and PFAS: State of Knowledge and Practice, which was one of the first PFAS guidance documents to be released. It can be found at NGWA.org/PFAS, which is a complete resource center about the groundwater contaminants featuring a FAQs document, a top-10 facts sheet, a homeowner checklist, and more.
NGWA is also once again hosting a conference on this topic, Fate of PFAS: From Groundwater to Tap Water, June 21-22, 2022 in Westerville, Ohio.