Nist Assist

In honor of International Firefighter’s Day, we’d like to highlight ways in which some of our research can be impactful for these emergency responders.

Firefighters wear protective layers also called turnout gear, which consist of three layers: outer shell, moisture barrier and thermal barrier. However, a certain class of chemicals, called PFAS or forever chemicals, have been found in this gear.

NIST researchers conducted an in-depth study by analyzing 20 different textiles used to make the different layers of the turnout gear.

Here are some of their findings:

▪️ The amount of PFAS varies widely between manufacturers and layers.

▪️ The highest concentrations of PFAS were observed in the outer two layers.

▪️ Results suggest that choosing best combinations of fabrics for each layer could significantly reduce the amount of PFAS in turnout gear.

Check out our news story to learn more: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2023/05/researchers-pin-down-pfas-prevalence-firefighter-gear

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