Increased PFAS Levels Detected in Firefighters Following Maui Wildfires

Recent research indicates that firefighters in Maui County displayed elevated levels of certain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) after their involvement in combating the 2023 wildfires. This study, published in the February 6 edition of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlights the potential health risks associated with exposure to these chemicals.

The study, led by CDC researchers, assessed the PFAS levels in first responders approximately one month after the wildfires, which occurred in August 2023. Blood samples from 258 employees of Maui County, including 178 firefighters, were analyzed. The results were compared to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 95th percentile concentrations for adults aged 20 and older.

The findings revealed that the median summed concentrations of seven specific PFAS were notably higher among firefighters than among other responders. The concentration of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) was particularly pronounced, with firefighters showing the highest levels. In one case, a firefighter's PFHxS concentration reached 9.3 µg/L, significantly exceeding the NHANES 95th percentile of 3.8 µg/L.

The study reported that between 2% to 40% of the Maui County employees, including firefighters, had PFAS levels surpassing the NHANES 95th percentile for other PFAS compounds. The median sum serum concentration of the seven PFAS among firefighters was found to be 7.0 µg/L. Notably, all but one firefighter had concentrations below the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) clinical threshold of 20 µg/L. For other occupational groups, median PFAS concentrations ranged from 5.7 µg/L to 6.9 µg/L.

The authors of the study emphasized the necessity of implementing strategies aimed at reducing PFAS exposure among first responders during emergency situations. Ensuring the health and safety of these individuals is paramount, particularly given their critical role in responding to disasters.

This research underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and evaluation of exposure risks faced by firefighters and other emergency responders, particularly in the context of environmental disasters such as wildfires.