Municipal Firefighting Stations Are Urged To Dispose Of Unused AFFF Properly Though State Government Programs

The State of New Hampshire is the first to go live with a program to pick up, transport, and process unused inventories of AFFF firefighting foam

Sunday, October 29, 2023 - The state of New Hampshire was the first to recognize the potential hazards that AFFF firefighting foam posed to those who used it occupationally such as firefighters and also to the drinking water supplies surrounding firefighting stations and airports. New Hampshire banned the use of firefighting foams based on studies linking PFAS chemicals to developing kidney and testicular cancer, and also other diseases like Parkinson's disease. Firefighters are often covered in a bubble bath of firefighting foam while trying to extinguish petroleum and jet fuel fires. Firefighter gloves, hats, pants, and coats are also made from waterproof and flameproof materials that expose firefighters to additional PFAS forever chemicals leading to firefighter cancer. Not only are all municipalities encouraged to end the use of firefighting foam, but they should also participate in a program that will properly dispose of the unused supplies of the deadly chemical. Officials told the NewHampshireChronicle.com, "The need to remove these toxic PFAS-containing foams from firehouses throughout New Hampshire is a must," said Brian Ryll, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. "As it stands now, many fire departments across the state have a stockpile of these foam products that are not able to be used. As time goes by, the likelihood of inadvertent use or exposure to these products increases." New Hampshire has established an AFFF firefighting foam takeback program to encourage municipal firefighting stations to dispose of their AFFF supplies. The program has gone live and municipal firefighting stations will now be able to use a pre-approved transportation contractor to pick up their unused supplies of AFFF and deliver them to a treatment facility where supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) technology will safely destroy and dispose of these wastes. " The contractor will be responsible for providing all necessary shipping manifests and shipping the AFFF to the designated disposal facility in a timely manner. The waste disposal contractor will provide a certificate of processing and analysis to NHDES once the AFFF inventory has been disposed of."

New Hampshire took the proper initiative in banning the use of firefighting foam, in part, based on evidence provided by the Center For Disease Control (CDC) whose scientists have been studying the PFAS forever chemical phenomenon. According to the CDC, " The per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Fluoropolymer coatings can be in a variety of products. These include clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, and the insulation of electrical wire. Many PFAS, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are a concern because they: do not break down in the environment, can move through soils and contaminate drinking water sources, build up (bioaccumulate) in fish and wildlife. PFAS are found in rivers and lakes and in many types of animals on land and in the water."

Information provided by AFFFLawsuitCenter.com, a website devoted to providing news about AFFF and PFAS cancer, lymphoma and leukaemia claims, including a free no-cost, no-obligation AFFF Lawsuit Claim.