NYC Council legislation would ban chemicals in FDNY gear that have been linked to cancer

Legislation in the City Council would ban chemicals known as PFAS that are used widely in FDNY gear and have been linked to cancer.

City Council Member Joann Ariola has introduced the four-bill package to ensure the FDNY phases out gear with PFAS by 2028. The legislation was set to be discussed at a City Council hearing on Monday.

Since the 1970s, the chemicals have been used to provide heat and water resistance in clothing. But New York State has banned the sale of certain PFAS to protect consumers.

However, the so-called “forever chemicals” are still in firefighting gear used by the FDNY, according to Ariola.

“New York State is a non-PFAS state, so if you even want to order boots to go out in the rain with, if they have PFAS, you can’t have them ordered to New York,” she said. “Yet we have our firefighters wearing full gear that contain PFAS.”

WINS-AM 1010 New York City