A group of firefighters is banding together and suing at least two dozen companies over claims that protective gear that the companies manufactured and sold contained harmful toxins.

Nineteen firefighters in Michigan and New York have filed two separate lawsuits against several companies including 3M and DuPont. These lawsuits are the latest in what has been a string of complaints alleging that firefighter gear contains elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS for short.

PFAS chemicals are better known for their use in coating nonstick pans. These chemicals are also behind the coating used on materials to make them waterproof, heat, stain, and grease resistant.

While these chemicals break down very slowly over time, studies show that exposure to elevated levels of PFAS chemicals can be harmful to both people and the environment. Studies indicate that because they have been widely used, small traces of them are detected in nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Today, PFAS can be found in water, air, soil, fish, and trace levels in the human body.

Cancer has long been the leading cause of death among firefighters. It’s been widely accepted that exposure to fires and smoke was the reason behind firefighters having a higher risk of certain types of cancer. With these newly surfaced claims, firefighters argue that the presence of these toxic chemicals in firefighter gear could be a valid alternative to the previous widely-held theory.

The firefighters at the center of these complaints allege that high levels of PFAS chemicals in their firefighter gear including their jackets, pants, and even in specialized firefighting foam have a detrimental effect on their health. For many firefighters, battles with cancer, liver damage, and other illnesses were allegedly the result of constant exposure to the PFAS present in the gear they wore on a daily basis.

Firefighters first became aware of their exposure to these chemicals after blood tests taken in December 2021 showed traces of PFAS in their bloodstream. These levels were “significantly elevated” when compared to other Americans. After further investigations, these firefighters were able to point to their firefighting gear as being the source of the exposure.

The attorney representing the firefighters, Jonathan K. Levine, explains that the companies in question should have known that the elevated levels of these toxins in their products were hazardous to humans, especially after constant contact. Despite this companies like 3M and DuPont failed to provide warnings to firefighters about the risk their work gear posed.

3M has responded to the allegations in the lawsuit and contends that their products geared toward firefighters are safe. In a statement shared by Bloomberg, the company explains, “3M is proud of the many ways we apply science to create products that our customers rely on.” The statement continues, “We will continue to vigorously defend our record of responsible use of PFAS and environmental stewardship in ongoing litigation, including these cases.”

The latest lawsuits differ from all the other complaints brought forward in the past couple of years. With these two suits, the complaint focuses specifically on firefighter gear commonly referred to as turnout gear. The majority of the complaints filed regarding these toxic chemicals have targeted the firefighting foam used when firefighters are out on the field or work with during training.