Firefighters Carry The Danger Of AFFF Residues In The Vehicle Cabins Of Firetrucks

Harmful PFAS from AFFF could lurk in emergency vehicle interiors, increasing firefighters' everyday low-level exposure hazards

Thursday, May 22, 2025 - For decades, especially in training drills and emergency situations involving dangerous flammable liquids, firefighters have battled fuel-based flames using aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). But mounting worries about the health hazards connected to the active components in the foam--per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)--have turned focus toward not just direct exposure but also residual contamination in unlikely locations. The firetruck itself is one under growing examination. Particularly those utilized often in foam-based operations, the interiors of rescue vehicles could be hiding PFAS residues long after an event ends. Firetrucks produce circumstances for constant low-level exposure since they are closed settings with restricted air movement. Known for their longevity, resistance to breakdown, and capacity to build up in the human body over time, PFAS are Among the health issues linked to PFAS are immunological suppression, hormone disturbance, and several cancers--including kidney and testicular cancer. Firefighters consulting an AFFF cancer attorney to take AFFF cancer legal action have spurred a tsunami of legal claims from these hazards. Legal interest in secondary and chronic PFAS exposure is rising, and now the focus is on the mobile workplaces that can unintentionally be carrying these harmful chemicals.

Recent studies on PFAS presence in fire engines are starting to show the long-term risks of cross-contamination. Residues may be transferred to most surfaces when that gear moves during transit or when firemen handle it and subsequently touch vehicle controls or seats. Sometimes PFAS can also become airborne, clinging to interior fibers or dust to raise inhalation danger. Many departments, particularly smaller or underfunded ones, nevertheless lack the tools or resources needed to carry out such initiatives regularly. Unknowingly riding for hours in contaminated vehicles, firefighters are constantly exposed to the very chemicals designed to be neutralized by training and cleanup operations. Legal advocates contend that, during foam deployment, this type of "secondary exposure" should be given equal weight as direct touch. Legal cases are growing and more studies being done means departments may be under increasing pressure for not sufficiently addressing taxi pollution. Beyond litigation, the increasing awareness could also cause a cultural change in the way fire departments handle decontamination. Soon the new benchmark will be clean cab design, specialized gear storage, PFAS surface testing, and regular vehicle sanitization.

Looking forward, the awareness of firetruck cabins as possible PFAS exposure zones is probably going to change accepted fire service industry safety procedures. Departments might change their policies for gear separation, make investments in interior materials free of PFAS, or even modify vehicle layouts to stop contamination spread. The legal scene might also change as upcoming AFFF cancer lawsuits point to cab pollution as a main point of exposure.

Information provided by AFFFLawsuitCenter.com, a website devoted to providing news about AFFF and PFAS cancer, lymphoma and leukaemia claims, including a free no-cost, no-obligation AFFF Lawsuit Claim.