{"id":218092,"date":"2026-01-05T16:06:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T16:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/218092\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T16:06:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T16:06:08","slug":"simple-wipe-test-reveals-pfas-on-firefighter-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/218092\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple wipe test reveals PFAS on firefighter gear"},"content":{"rendered":"

Original story from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center<\/a><\/p>\n

A simple wipe test detected invisible cancer-linked \u201cforever chemicals\u201d on every set of firefighter gear examined, including breathing masks.<\/p>\n

According to new research from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center<\/a>, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine this non-destructive method offers fire departments a practical way to identify and reduce exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals tied to increased cancer risk that can linger on gear long after a fire is out.<\/p>\n

Published in the\u00a0Journal of Hazardous Materials, the\u00a0study<\/a> offers a practical tool to help firefighters reduce exposure to chemicals linked to cancer \u2013 the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink of it as turning on a blacklight in a dark room,\u201d said\u00a0Alberto Caban-Martinez, Ph.D., D.O., M.P.H.<\/a>, deputy director and investigator at\u00a0Sylvester\u2019s Firefighter Cancer Initiative (FCI)<\/a>. \u201cSuddenly, you see what\u2019s been hiding all along.\u201d<\/p>\n

PFAS are heat-resistant compounds used in foams and coatings. They don\u2019t burn, don\u2019t break down and don\u2019t leave easily. In the study, researchers swabbed high-contact areas of turnout gear and SCBA masks with damp polypropylene wipes, then analyzed the extracts using advanced mass spectrometry.<\/p>\n

The results were alarming. Every gear set tested carried PFAS, with concentrations reaching hundreds of nanograms per gram. Even inside breathing masks\u2014where firefighters expect clean air\u2014PFAS traces were found.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Do firefighters have an increased risk of glioma?<\/a><\/p>\n

Researchers have demonstrated a link between a distinct glioma mutational signature and occupational exposure to haloalkanes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like smoke that never clears,\u201d said\u00a0Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., M.P.H.<\/a>, co-author of the study and\u00a0director 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

Through research, education and advocacy, Sylvester FCI has helped transform firehouse culture, with its work spanning mobile cancer screening clinics, decontamination kits, and training programs in English and Spanish. The Initiative also champions policies like Florida\u2019s presumptive cancer law, which provides financial support for firefighters diagnosed with occupational cancers.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur pledge is to protect those who protect us,\u201d said Kobetz, who is also 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

The wipe test is a powerful decision-making tool, informing:<\/p>\n

When to clean gear.
\nHow to bag and transport it.
\nWhich items need deep decontamination before the next call.<\/p>\n

Because the method doesn\u2019t damage textiles, it can be used routinely\u2014after high-foam incidents or multi-alarm fires\u2014without sidelining equipment.<\/p>\n

The study went beyond simply finding the chemicals. Researchers also estimated how PFAS on the surface of gear could translate into internal exposure. Their conclusion: Even trace amounts on equipment can add up to meaningful exposure across a career.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want PFAS to stay off skin, off gear, and out of stations,\u201d said co-author\u00a0Natasha Schaefer Solle, Ph.D., RN<\/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

This article has been republished from the\u00a0following\u00a0materials<\/a>.\u00a0Material may have been edited for length and house style. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Original story from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center A simple wipe test detected invisible cancer-linked \u201cforever chemicals\u201d on every…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":218093,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[55645,134,111,139,69,55644],"class_list":{"0":"post-218092","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-forever-chemicals","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-new-zealand","11":"tag-newzealand","12":"tag-nz","13":"tag-pfas"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218092\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}