By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois firefighters will soon be wearing protective gear free of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” under a new state law supporters say will save lives but that also raises questions about costs and supply.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Deputy Chief Pete Bendinelli PFAS PPE Act, banning firefighter gear with PFAS starting in 2027. Supporters say it will help cut cancer risks, now the leading cause of firefighter deaths.

Some critics worry the dates could advantage larger manufacturers that have invested early in research and development, potentially creating a limited market. State Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, a veteran firefighter, said the deadlines were developed in consultation with the industry.

“Are bigger companies that invested in research and development earlier going to be the first ones out the door that departments have to buy from? That could be,” said Anderson. “But I don’t see it as a big issue, because we’re not cornering the market by setting this date. Smaller companies may come in later, but we can’t delay something that’s for the good of public safety just because only a couple companies are ready at first.”

The PFA chemicals are used for water and heat resistance.

“As a legislator, I’m willing to sit down with the industry and firefighters if it turns out that non-PFAS gear is only rated for 400 degrees instead of 700. That’s a conversation we would need to have to understand the implications and determine the best path forward,” said Anderson.

When asked if any fire gear companies lobbied for the legislation, Anderson confirmed the bill was an initiative of firefighter special interest groups.

Chuck Sullivan, president of the Associated Firefighters of Illinois, which represents about 18,000 firefighters and paramedics, said the law reflects years of research showing PFAS are widely present in firefighting gear.

“Up until about 8 to 10 years ago, little did we know that our bunker gear actually contains extremely dangerous forever chemicals,” Sullivan said. “We’re putting this on and taking this off 15 to 20 times a day. Cancer has become the leading cause of duty-related deaths for firefighters.”

Sullivan said Illinois followed the lead of Massachusetts and Connecticut in setting 2027 as the cutoff, with flexibility if manufacturers fall behind.

“If that 2027 date isn’t realistic, we have no issue with moving the date somewhere in the future,” Sullivan said.

Anderson said gear replacement cycles mean the law will not immediately financially strain departments.

“Gear is replaced on a regular basis, usually every 10 years according to National Fire Protection Association standards,” Anderson told The Center Square. “There is a mechanism in the bill that it’s not like they have to all change the gear right now. There’s a lead-in to it.”

Anderson acknowledged costs will rise as PFAS-free equipment becomes the standard but argued those expenses may ultimately save taxpayers money.

“If we can curb a cancer-causing chemical in the gear that we wear that will cause less cancer, that is less liability on the department,” Anderson said. “It can also be looked at as a cost-saving measure.”

Sullivan echoed Anderson saying, “The cost of just two firefighters contracting cancer and the pension disability cost probably far outweighs the cost of a set of PFAS-free bunker gear.”

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