05/28/2026
Most firefighters think the danger ends when the fire goes out.
But what if the uniform itself became part of the exposure problem?
For years, the fire service focused on smoke, soot, and contaminated gear while synthetic station wear, PFAS-treated fabrics, flame retardants, and chemical-laden uniforms quietly became part of everyday occupational exposure.
This article breaks down how we accidentally normalized wearing chemical exposure garments for 24-hour shifts â and why the future of firefighter health may start with rethinking what we wear every single day.
The conversation is long overdue.
Read the full article here: https://goodman030.medium.com/the-fire-service-accidentally-built-a-chemical-exposure-uniform-a5272d9c35a7
For years, firefighters have been told the fireground is the primary threat.