Dermal Absorption PFAS from Firefighter Gear

Project Title: Assessing Percutaneous Absorption of PFAS Compounds from Firefighter Protective Clothing.

The PFAS family of chemicals has been used extensively across many commercial products for decades, but their persistent and toxic nature has resulted in them being linked to multiple adverse health effects in recent years. Firefighters can have increased exposure to these compounds by burning treated materials, firefighting foams, and contact with their protective clothing, often treated with the chemicals to impart repellency. This project seeks to understand better the extent to which these chemicals can transfer from protective clothing and absorb into the skin to improve the health and safety of firefighters.

• Grant: National Institute of Standards & Technology (Jan. 2022 – Dec. 2023)
• Grant Award Amount: $247,036

Publications

• Hall A.S., Baynes R., Neumann L.M., Maibach H.I., Ormond R.B. (2024). Skin Permeability of Perfluorocarboxylic Acids Using Flow-Through Diffusion on Porcine Skin. Toxics, 12(10), 703.