a graphic with the acronym PFAS and its scientific name, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances along with chemical compound trees or molecular structures.

What is PFAS?

Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) consist of a group of synthetic chemicals. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH) states, according to a chemical database (CompTox) maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 15,000 variations of PFAS exist today.

PFAS chemistry dates to the 1930s, with consumer products containing PFAS since the 1950s. The ATSDR notes most Americans have PFAS in their blood due to exposure.

Routes of Exposure

A collage of photos showing various routes of PFAS exposure. The top left photo shows a landfill with a pool of water. The top middle photo shows two smoke stacks from an industrial facility discharging gasses, vapors, and or fumes into the atmosphere. The top right photo shows water from a kitchen faucet willing a glass. The bottom left photo shows firefighters standing inside a burnt out building wearing firefighter turnout gear but not their self-contained-breathing apparatus. The bottom middle photo shows a woman applying red lipstick to her bottom lip. The bottom right shows a woman holding a hamburger in her right hand while she drinks from a disposable cup she is holding in her left hand.

The most common routes of exposure include ingestion, absorption, and inhalation. Around 110 million Americans have been exposed to PFAS via consumer products or other PFAS-containing items. Some examples may include:

  • Non-stick cookware
  • Waterproof/resistant clothing, carpeting, and fabrics used in furniture
  • Firefighting foam
  • Firefighter protective ensembles known as turnout gear
  • Personal care products such as cosmetics, dental floss, shampoo
  • Food Packaging such as fast-food wrappers, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags
  • Biosolids such as fertilizers
  • Artificial turf
  • Components used in electronics such as mobile phones
  • Sealants and adhesives to include caulking
  • Certain building materials to include composites
  • Contaminated drinking water
  • Contaminated wildlife, aquatic species, vegetation
  • Leachate from unlined landfill sites
  • Dust

Occupational Exposure

An image of a firefighter walking through a pool of firefighting foam that contains PFAS.

OSHA defines occupational exposure as anticipated contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials during an employee’s duties. OSHA has not set any legal limits for PFAS.

The NFPA defines occupational exposure as infectious exposure from a member’s duties.

Although not classified as an infectious substance, PFAS is recognized as toxic. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has not set any recommended limits for PFAS in air.

Aside from daily exposure to consumer products, firefighters are exposed to PFAS by way of products of combustion. Burning household products with PFAS releases toxic fumes, soot, ash, or smoke that can be inhaled or absorbed. Those products of combustion easily attach themselves to the firefighter’s protective ensembles and exposed skin. Firefighters face continuous exposure to combustion products until thoroughly removed, increasing health risks.

PFAS Health Effects

A collage of four hazardous symbols. The symbol to the far left is a skull and crossbones indicating a toxic substance. The symbol to the right is a silhouette of a person with a six pointed star in the middle indicating a health hazard. The next symbol to the right is a tree with an upside down fish in front of it indicating dangerous for the environment. And the symbol to the far right is a placard separated into four color squares, white, blue, red, and yellow. The white square is empty, the blue square contains the number three, the red and yellow squares contain the number zero. This placard would indicate the material it pertains to has a high health hazard and a low fire and instability hazard.

Because PFAS are synthetic chemicals, they do not naturally occur, neither in the environment or our bodies. Therefore, when these foreign substances enter with our bodies, they may perturb or cause certain components to react. Some examples are:

  • Increases in cholesterol levels
  • Changes in liver enzymes
  • Decreases in child birth weight
  • Lower antibody responses to vaccines
  • Pregnancy induced hypertension and preeclampsia
  • Kidney and testicular cancer

PFAS Blood Testing

An image of an individual simulating applying blood to a PFAS blood test kit manufactured by EmpowerDX, a division of Eurofins.

Most consumers were unaware of PFAS until recently, despite their long history in manufacturing. Testing blood for PFAS is relatively new and is a means of determining exposure. While there are many laboratories conducting blood testing, not all test the same. In fact, not all laboratories test the same, therefore the results may vary from one laboratory to the next.

Eurofins, a leader in product testing, developed a remote blood testing kit enabling individuals to provide samples from home or work quickly.

A positive result doesn’t guarantee illness, disease, or cancer. A blood test provides a PFAS baseline, allowing you and your physician to monitor and decrease future levels.

We highly recommend that after you have your blood tested, you meet with your healthcare provider to discuss the results. Given PFAS’s recent medical recognition, your physician might have limited knowledge of its health effects. If that is the case, please feel free to reach out to AFSO21 LLC and ask questions. We offer tailored advisory support to help local fire responders reduce PFAS exposure risk for themselves and their communities. Click the button below to contact us today:

Contact us about PFAS

Managing Occupational Exposure to PFAS

Don’t miss this critical presentation on PFAS exposure! Hear from one of America’s most outspoken advocates for preventing firefighter occupational exposure to PFAS and how you can protect yourself and your organization from the hidden dangers of toxic “forever chemicals”.

Learn More

2025 U.S. Fire Service PFAS Exposure Survey

Image of firefighters spraying water onto a simulated ground fire supplied with propane.

The FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandated the United States Department of Defense (DoD) offer PFAS blood tests to all DoD firefighters. In 2021, after an in-depth evaluation of the PFAS blood testing program, the Department of Defense Inspector General (DoDIG) found the DoD was not tracking, trending, or analyzing PFAS blood test data. Upon learning of this, AFSO21 LLC immediately created a survey to determine what, if any, PFAS compounds DoD firefighters were exposed to. The results were alarming.

Previous surveys conducted by AFSO21 LLC indicated that most survey participants had detectable levels of PFAS in their blood to include elevated levels of PFOA and PFOS. Approximately 96% of survey participants reported levels of PFHxS exceeding the CDC / NHANES Study’s Geometric Mean of 1.08 ng/mL (1,080 ppt). PFHxS is a lesser known PFAS chemical that is used to replace PFOA, a compound typically used and found in firefighter turnout gear and fluorinated firefighting foams, as well as other products.

AFSO21 LLC conducted the 2025 survey to further gather information about firefighter’s exposure to PFAS. Participation data raises awareness, advocates for change, and protects the health and safety of firefighters around the world. 

Please take a moment to conduct this survey; your input is crucial.

Click Here to Participate in the 2025 Survey