According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS (or forever chemicals) can be found in almost every American’s bloodstream. Based on your career, though, you could be more exposed than others.
The National Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study is starting its research into PFAS and firefighters’ health in North Carolina.
Researchers from Duke and NC State are leading the study, hoping to follow firefighters throughout their careers to analyze how PFAS are affecting them. PFAS can be found in certain types of firefighting foam and are used to make firefighters’ uniforms water and oil-repellant.
“The occupation of firefighting in 2022 was named a known carcinogen,” researcher Bryan Ormond with NC State said.