Profiles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in firefighter turnout gear and their impact on exposure assessment

Abstract

Firefighters are increasingly concerned about their exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Polymeric PFAS are commonly used in the manufacturing and treatment of textiles designed for firefighters' turnout gear. This study was conducted to assess the effect of wear and tear on the concentrations and distribution of PFAS in used turnout gear by analyzing swatches taken from different areas from the different layers of the gear: the outer layer (OL), moisture barrier (MB), and thermal liner (TL). In the OL, samples collected from the bottom back of the pants showed higher concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) than samples taken from the knee, ankle, and groin areas. In the jacket, samples from the neck of the OL exhibited lower PFAA concentrations compared to samples taken from the back, elbow, and underarm areas. In addition, this study assessed PFAS profiles in the layers of five firefighter jackets (J) and four pants (P) manufactured between 2008 and 2019. The jacket manufactured in 2019, which had been in service for only one year, recorded the lowest PFAS concentration at 284 ng g⁻¹. Notably, fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs, including n = 6, 8, 10) were detected in all samples, accounting for over 50% of the total PFAS content. Generally, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was found in older jackets, while perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) was detected in newer jackets. Interestingly, the highest concentrations of FTOHs in the MB occurred in unused gear (DOM 2011), and these concentrations increased over time since manufacture, with the lowest levels found in newer and lightly used gear (DOM 2019). Moreover, the thermal liner from the unused gear had the lowest PFAS concentration.