Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch (left) was among the speakers at Thursday's press conference.Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Calling it an "outrage and a betrayal," Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch says fire gear the city purchased that was advertised as PFAS-free has been independently tested and found to contain the 'forever chemicals.'
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals known to resist water and grease earning the nickname forever chemicals because they don't break down in the environment.
Exposure to PFAS has been linked to potential health problems that include cancer.
PFAS are found in many consumer products such as non-stick cookware, food packaging, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foam.
Quincy officials, including the mayor and the International Association of Fire Fighters General President Edward Kelly, held a press conference on Thursday to raise concerns over the recently purchased gear. "The new gear we bought, sold to us on the premise it had no PFAS in it, PFAS-free, that's how it was advertised," the mayor said.
The fire gear was bought in 2023 from Safety Components.
Mayor Koch said after the gear was independently tested by a professor at Notre Dame, it came back PFAS positive. "Whether this PFAS was intentionally put in the gear, or accidentally got in the gear through manufacturing, I don't know enough about that world, but if it was intentionally put, knowingly, by these companies, then there is going to be one hell of a lawsuit."
The mayor is asking other fire departments across the state and the country to test their gear for PFAS, especially if it was advertised to not contain PFAS.
He also said the city is considering its legal options.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@jamesrojas.bsky.social) reports.
Safety Components responded to the Quincy allegations in this statement sent to WBZ NewsRadio from a company spokesperson.
Statement:
Safety Components was recently notified by a fire department in Quincy, Massachusetts, that an outer shell of firefighter turnout gear made with our flame-resistant fabric tested positive for trace levels of fluorine. We take concerns of this nature seriously and are working with the fire department and the City of Quincy to address their concerns.
Fluorine chemistry is not intentionally added in the manufacture of any Safety Components fabrics, including those used for firefighter turnout gear. The levels of fluorine detected by the testing performed by the City of Quincy were very low. The source of the trace levels of fluorine detected has not been determined. Our latest testing of PF Zero finished fabrics from our facility in Greenville, South Carolina, showed no traces of fluorine.
Safety Components was the first textile company in the industry to transition away from using fluorine chemistry in the manufacturing process of its fabrics for the North American market in early 2021. We fully transitioned away from using fluorine in the manufacturing process of all of our fabrics in early 2025, and no longer have any fluorine chemistries in our facility. Our focus remains on providing firefighters the flame-resistant fabrics they rely on for their health and safety.