Legislation passed today by the Senate would prohibit the sale of firefighting foam that contains chemicals deadly to people and destructive to the environment past July of 2020.
The chemicals, known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS), are commonly used to help fight fires at airfields and other places — including during frequent firefighter training drills — where petroleum-based fires pose a risk. PFAS have been found in wells used for drinking water on Whidbey Island, Issaquah, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Airway Heights near Fairchild Air Force Base. The chemicals also exist in equipment used by firefighters.
Studies in animals show that exposure to PFAS can affect liver function, reproductive hormones, development of offspring, and mortality. However, PFAS toxicity in humans is less understood, and exposure may be linked to high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, and pregnancy-induced hypertension.
“It’s important we limit future contamination and exposure to these persistent chemicals, which can build up in the environment and in our bodies,” said Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim. “These chemicals are a particular concern for pregnant women and young children, as they can disrupt the endocrine system and impede fetal development.”
Van De Wege’s Senate Bill 6413 would:
- Prohibit the sale, manufacture, and distribution of firefighting foam that has perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) intentionally added.
- Require sellers of firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) containing PFAS to notify purchasers of the equipment; and
- Punish violations of the act with civil penalties up to $5,000 for a first offense and up to $10,000 for subsequent violations.
