{"id":32728,"date":"2025-12-30T17:24:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T17:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=32728"},"modified":"2025-12-30T17:25:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T17:25:01","slug":"simple-wipe-test-reveals-hidden-pfas-on-firefighter-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/simple-wipe-test-reveals-hidden-pfas-on-firefighter-gear\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple Wipe Test Reveals Hidden PFAS on Firefighter Gear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new wipe test from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center reveals invisible PFAS contamination on firefighter gear, including breathing masks. The non-destructive method could help departments cut cancer risks by changing how gear is cleaned, stored and used.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple new test is helping firefighters see a hidden threat that has been clinging to their gear all along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, have shown that a basic \u201cwipe test\u201d can detect invisible, cancer-linked chemicals on firefighter protective equipment, including breathing masks. The method, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0304389425035538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">described<\/a> in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, offers a practical way for fire departments to find and reduce exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PFAS are sometimes called \u201cforever chemicals\u201d because they do not easily break down in the environment or the human body. They are used in firefighting foams and in coatings that help gear resist heat, water and oil. Over time, research has linked PFAS exposure to increased cancer risk and other health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cancer is now the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters, making any new tool to limit exposure especially urgent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the study, the Sylvester team focused on the gear firefighters rely on most: turnout coats and pants, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) masks. Instead of cutting into the gear or sending it away for destructive testing, they used damp polypropylene wipes to swab high-contact areas on the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those wipes were then analyzed using advanced mass spectrometry, a lab technique that can detect tiny amounts of chemicals. The results were sobering. Every set of gear tested carried PFAS, with some samples reaching concentrations in the hundreds of nanograms per gram. Even the inside of breathing masks, where firefighters expect clean air and a protective seal, showed PFAS contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the study leaders compared the new approach to \u201cturning on a blacklight in a dark room,\u201d a way of suddenly revealing what the eye cannot see. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThink of it as turning on a blacklight in a dark room,\u201d co-author Alberto Caban-Martinez, a deputy director and investigator at\u00a0Sylvester\u2019s Firefighter Cancer Initiative (FCI), said in a news release. \u201cSuddenly, you see what\u2019s been hiding all along.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The findings suggest that PFAS do not just stay locked inside the fabric or coatings of gear. Instead, they can migrate to surfaces that firefighters touch with their hands, faces and necks, and that they carry back into fire trucks, stations and even their homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It\u2019s like smoke that never clears,\u201d added co-author\u00a0Erin Kobetz, the director and principal investigator of Sylvester FCI. \u201cThese chemicals ride home on gear, settle in firehouses, and can end up in the bloodstream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wipe test itself is simple, quick and non-destructive, which makes it especially promising for real-world use. Because it does not damage textiles or equipment, departments could use it repeatedly after major incidents, foam-heavy responses or multi-alarm fires to decide what needs cleaning and how urgently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Sylvester team frames the test as a decision-making tool. By showing where PFAS are present and how heavily surfaces are contaminated, it can guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2013 When to clean or launder turnout gear<br>\u2013 How to bag and transport gear back from a scene<br>\u2013 Which items need deep decontamination before the next call<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers also went beyond detection. Using the surface measurements, they estimated how PFAS on gear could translate into internal exposure over time. Their conclusion: even trace amounts on equipment can add up to meaningful exposure across a firefighter\u2019s career, especially when combined with other sources such as firefighting foam and station dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is why they emphasize keeping PFAS as far from firefighters\u2019 bodies and workplaces as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe want PFAS to stay off skin, off gear, and out of stations,\u201d added co-author\u00a0Natasha Schaefer Solle, a Sylvester FCI deputy director and investigator. \u201cA quick wipe test helps crews make smarter choices\u2014before invisible hazards become lifelong burdens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new study builds on years of work by Sylvester\u2019s Firefighter Cancer Initiative, which combines research, education and advocacy to lower cancer risk in the fire service. The initiative has helped change firehouse culture through mobile cancer screening clinics, decontamination kits on trucks, and training programs in English and Spanish that stress cleaning gear, showering quickly after fires and limiting take-home contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has also supported policies such as Florida\u2019s presumptive cancer law, which provides financial support for firefighters diagnosed with certain occupational cancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal is to give firefighters practical tools and evidence they can use right now, while longer-term efforts to reform PFAS use and develop safer gear continue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur pledge is to protect those who protect us,\u201d added Kobetz, who is also an associate director of community outreach and engagement at Sylvester and the John K. and Judy H. Schulte Senior Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. \u201cFrom gear testing to health screenings, every step moves us closer to a safer fire service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, the researchers expect departments to begin piloting the wipe test in the field, using it to map contamination patterns in their own fleets and stations. Over time, that data could help refine cleaning schedules, influence purchasing decisions for new gear and support broader policy changes around PFAS in firefighting equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For firefighters, the message is both alarming and empowering: the threat is real, but it is no longer invisible. With a simple wipe, departments can start to see where \u201cforever chemicals\u201d are hiding \u2014 and take concrete steps to keep them off the bodies of the people who run toward danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/news.med.miami.edu\/how-a-simple-wipe-test-reveals-pfas-on-firefighter-gear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">University of Miami Miller School of Medicine<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new wipe test from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center reveals invisible PFAS contamination on firefighter gear, including breathing masks. The non-destructive method could help departments cut cancer risks by changing how gear is cleaned, stored and used.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[476],"class_list":["post-32728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","tag-university-of-miami-miller-school-of-medicine"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A new wipe test from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center reveals invisible PFAS contamination on firefighter gear, including breathing masks. The non-destructive method could help departments cut cancer risks by changing how gear is cleaned, stored and used.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32728"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32739,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32728\/revisions\/32739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}