Larson pushes bill to protect firefighters from PFAS
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Democrat Senator Liz Larson has had early success moving forward a bill designed to protect firefighters in South Dakota.
The bill, SB163, would require that fire departments in South Dakota only purchase firefighting personal protective equipment that has permanently affixed labels indicating whether the equipment contains a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS).
PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals' are substances which do not easily break down and remain in the human body. These have been tied to various long-term health impacts, including cancers.
PFAS are found in a variety of firefighting gear including protective gear meant to shield the body from heat.
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In a presentation to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Larson provided a personal example; that of her uncle, Bruce.
Bruce was a member of the Ranchos Volunteer Fire Department in Gardnerville, Nevada, serving at times as chief engineer and training officer for the department. Larson wrote in her presentation that Bruce died just shy of the age of 55 after a nine-year bout with cancer. His story, said Larson, is not rare.
Larson stated in her presentation that the bill offers a practical, no-cost answer to the problem. While the label does not protect the firefighters from the chemicals themselves, they do allow for the responsible management of gear as it ages.
The bill, she emphasized, does not ban the purchase of this gear, but is just 'a simple, common-sense measure' to require labeling of gear with PFAS with an already existing label.
Larson's bill passed the Senate HHS committee 7-0.
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