Resolution No. 34 – Toxic Flame Retardants and their Contribution to Cancer and Health Issues in the Fire Service

Resolution No. 34
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: Health & Safety
Re: Toxic Flame Retardants and their Contribution to Cancer and Health Issues in the Fire Service

1	WHEREAS, the International Association of Fire
2	Fighters has recognized through multiple cancer
3	studies on fire fighters the proven correlation
4	between firefighting and occupational related cancer;
5	and
6	WHEREAS, since 2002, 56 percent of the Line of
7	Duty Deaths reported to the IAFF have been the
8	result of occupational cancers and that this
9	unacceptable statistic is one of the major health
10	related issues facing our members; and
11	WHEREAS, the continual mounting weight of
12	scientific data points to fire fighters having a much
13	higher risk of developing cancer due to their contact
14	with known carcinogens, to include flame retardants,
15	due to skin absorption, ingestion, breathing of air and
16	other routes of exposure during and after a
17	firefighting incident; and
18	WHEREAS, the toxins contained within chemical
19	flame retardants, and those compounds released
20	when they burn, contribute to high rates of certain
21	cancers among fire fighters. When chemical flame
22	retardants burn they convert into dioxin and furans,
23	which expose fire fighters to dangerous levels of
24	extremely toxic and cancer-causing chemicals that
25	can penetrate protective gear; and
26	WHEREAS, representatives of the major
27	manufacturers of these flame retardants, in the states
28	where they have legislatively opposed banning the
29	use of these carcinogenic flame retardants, have been
30	shown by investigative journalists and our own
31	affiliates in these states, to use a campaign of
32	misinformation, lies, and deceit; and
33	WHEREAS, chemical industry interests attempts
34	at the federal level to amend preemption language in
35	the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that far
36	exceed the preemption provision currently in place
37	under TSCA; and
38	WHEREAS, an analysis of 32 related fire fighter
39	cancers studies published in the The Journal of
40	Occupational and Environmental Medicine along
41	with the recent NIOSH and Nordic fire fighter cancer
42	studies established that fire fighters have
43	significantly elevated rates of cancer, which is likely
44	due to their routine exposure to complex mixtures,
45	such as the toxic products created when chemical fire
46	retardants burn; and
47	WHEREAS, the presence of certain chemical
48	flame retardants are a direct threat to the health and
49	safety of our members. More importantly, they are a
50	threat to the health and safety of the people we are
51	sworn to serve. That’s why the IAFF has established
52	a position and strategy paper on the ban and
53	restriction of flame retardants and actively endorsed
54	the updated California flame retardant standard TB-
55	117-2013 and continue to support state and
56	provincial associations that are pursuing legislation
57	such as California Senate Bill 1019; and
58	WHEREAS, the National Fire Protection
59	Association, International Code Council,
60	Underwriters Laboratories and other similar
61	organizations play an important role in the
62	development of flame retardant tests and related
63	standards for upholstered furniture, furniture textiles
64	and the like; and
65	WHEREAS, firefighting has inherent risks, but all
66	efforts to minimize fire fighters’ exposure to toxic
67	chemicals and other fire ground health and safety
68	issues must be aggressively pursued; therefore be it
69	RESOLVED, That the IAFF formulate a position
70	on the use, regulation, testing and health-based safety
71	standards for flame retardant chemicals and other
72	toxic chemicals, which fire fighters are exposed to on
73	a daily basis; and be it further
74	RESOLVED, That the IAFF ensure that any
75	federal legislation on the use or manufacturing of
76	flame retardants, industrial chemicals and other
77	toxins shall protect the rights and abilities of state
78	and municipalities to enact laws regarding the use of
79	said products, while opposing any and all federal
80	legislation that has preemption against allowing
81	states to ban or regulate flame retardants, industrial
82	chemicals, toxins and other specific hazardous
83	chemicals; and be it further
84	RESOLVED, That the position of the IAFF will
85	continue to support affiliates at the local, state and
86	provincial level in any attempt to ban flame
87	retardants, industrial chemicals and other known
88	toxins through legislation, regulation or standard
89	changes; and be it further
90	RESOLVED, That the IAFF work to ensure that
91	the use of carcinogenic flame retardants and other
92	toxic chemicals are eliminated and safer alternatives
93	or methods are pursued, such as California’s standard
94	TB-117-2013, including the development of non-
95	toxic standards through the National Fire Protection
96	Association, International Code Council,
97	Underwriters Laboratories and similar testing
98	Organizations; and be it further
100	RESOLVED, That the IAFF gather additional
101	scientific research and studies regarding fire fighter
102	exposure to carcinogens, toxic flame retardants and
103	other toxic chemicals, as well as continue to educate,
104	train and heighten the awareness of its members to
105	the dangers of these toxic chemicals and seek
106	preventative measures to lessen fire fighters risk of
107	developing cancer.

Submitted by: Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts
Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire
Professional Fire Fighters of Vermont
Professional Fire Fighters of Maine
Cost Estimate: None

Resolution No. 34 – Toxic Flame Retardants and their Contribution to Cancer and Health Issues in the Fire Service

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