• Posted December 19, 2025

Study Finds Cancer-Linked Chemicals in Some Firefighter Gear

Some protective gear worn by firefighters may contain chemicals linked to serious health risks, according to a new study.

The research — published Dec. 16 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters — found that certain firefighter turnout gear contains brominated flame retardants, or chemicals added to materials to slow flames, but also tied to cancer and hormone problems.

This is one of the first in-depth studies to closely examine whether these chemicals are present in firefighter gear and how much could be released during use.

Firefighters wear turnout gear made of three layers: An outer shell that resists flames, a middle moisture barrier that blocks germs and an inner lining that helps control body heat. 

To meet safety rules set by the National Fire Protection Association, manufacturers treat these layers with chemicals to reduce fire risk.

For years, firefighters have raised concerns about PFAS, a group of chemicals once commonly used in turnout gear to repel water and oil. PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer and other health problems.

Although PFAS-treated gear has not been directly tied to illness in firefighters, many states have passed laws banning the purchase of PFAS-treated gear starting in 2027. As a result, manufacturers have begun phasing those chemicals out.

That raised a new question: What chemicals are being used instead?

"There was a rumor that one of the turnout gear manufacturers might be using brominated flame retardants in the non-PFAS treated textiles," study leader Heather Stapleton, a professor at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment in Durham, N.C., said in a news release.

"Because some brominated flame retardants have known toxicity, I requested a sample of the gear in question to test," she added.

Stapleton and her colleagues tested 12 sets of turnout gear, nine made between 2013 and 2020, and three made in 2024 that were marketed as PFAS-free.

They tested each layer of the gear to see:

• Which chemicals were present

• How much could transfer during normal use

PFAS showed up in all older gear, but 2024 gear had little to no extractable PFAS, supporting claims that newer gear avoids those chemicals.

However, every single set of gear tested contained brominated flame retardants, and in many cases, levels were higher than PFAS.

The highest levels of brominated flame retardants were found in gear labeled as non-PFAS, especially in the moisture barrier layer.

This suggests that manufacturers may be intentionally adding brominated flame retardants to replace PFAS and still meet fire safety standards.

One chemical, decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), appeared most often. While it hasn’t been studied much in the U.S., a 2019 study in China linked DBDPE exposure to thyroid problems in manufacturing workers.

"I was really surprised that the manufacturers used DBDPE in turnout gear," Stapleton said. "It has similar properties as a toxic chemical called decaBDE that has been largely phased out globally, raising questions about its safety."

In older gear, the outer shell had the highest chemical levels, most likely from smoke and soot during fires.

"When building materials burn, they can release brominated flame retardants into the air that stick to gear and don't wash out very well," Stapleton explained.

But the presence of these chemicals inside the gear shows that manufacturing choices, and not just fire exposure, play a role.

Researchers said they don’t know just yet how much of these chemicals firefighters absorb or what the long-term health effects may be.

But the findings matter because turnout gear is expensive and often used for many years.

"Fire departments must consider both the financial and personal safety costs of keeping or replacing gear," said study co-author R. Bryan Ormond, an associate professor at N.C. State University’s Wilson College of Textiles in Raleigh, N.C.

Stapleton said some companies now offer gear made without PFAS or brominated flame retardants, and she urged departments to demand more transparency in the equipment they use.

"We know firefighters receive higher exposure to multiple chemicals from all the hazards they face during their duty, and they shouldn't have to worry about receiving additional chemical exposures from their gear," Stapleton said.

More information

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has more on PFAS.

SOURCE: Duke University, news release, Dec. 18, 2025