The Columbia Fire Department has announced that it is replacing its foam due to environmental concerns. The fire department announced that it is phasing out aqueous film-forming foam because of its environmental hazards, specifically the impact of a group of chemicals known as PFAS on soil and water.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS are widely used, long-lasting chemicals with components that break down very slowly over time. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS, also called forever chemicals, in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.
In place of aqueous film-forming foam, the fire department has received a new foam, called fluorine-free foam, that it says is “both effective and far safer to handle and deploy.” The department said it’s “committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for our firefighters while doing our part to care for the community we serve.”
