Welcome to the PFAs Section of ResponderHelp.com
This section of the site is dedicated to PFAs topics of national interest. The associated articles to the right (down below the state listing on mobile) include general information, infographics, research projects and federal legislation related to PFAs.
PFAs
There has been a significant amount of research into the hazards of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the environment and to the people that use them. PFAS are the active ingredient in fluorosurfactants. In simple fire terms, PFAS’ are the active ingredient in Class B foams that are fluorine based. The vast majority of the Class B firefighting foam in stock or service in the United States is aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) or alcohol-resistant aqueous film-forming foam (AR-AFFF). These foams contain PFAS. Class B foams that are fluorine-free do NOT contain PFAS.
What Are PFAs?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s. PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. Both chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. This is a concern in fire and emergency services because fluorine based Class B foams contain PFAS.
Listed below are some national disposal companies that will handle disposal of foam. This is by no means a complete list, nor is it an endorsement of any of these companies.
US Ecology
https://www.usecology.com/services/treatment-disposal/pfas-waste-solutions
Clean Earth
https://cleanearthinc.com/about-us
RCRA Waste Services
Clean Management Environmental Group
Clean Harbors – (Remediation Services)
https://www.remediationequipment.com/home
Click on your state for local information.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Ask a Specialist
Related PFAs Resources
- PFAS Contaminated Sites and Take Back Programs
- Indiana State PFAS Foam Take-Back Program
- Fire Department Service Announcement Bulletin #36 PFAS Testing
- Pennsylvania User Submitted PFAS Foam Disposal Sites
- DODs Environmental Research Programs on PFASs
- EPA Interim Guidance on How to Say Goodbye to Your Forever Chemicals
- Firefighting Foam - Class B Foams and PFAS
- Researchers Study Health Risk of Chemicals in Firefighter Foam, Protective Gear
- Protective Gear Could Expose Firefighters to PFAS
- PFAS: Regulation of Firefighting Foam
- PFAS Infographic
- The Hidden Dangers of Firefighting Foam
- Firefighting Foam - Class B Foams and PFAS by VFIS
- Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances - PFAS Fact Sheet
- Federal PFAS Research Evaluation Act
- Risk Management for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) under TSCA
- Exposure to PFAS During Military Service
- States Struggle to Dispose of 1 Million Gallons of PFAS Foam
- Philly Activist Urges Congress to Move Faster on Regulating PFAS
Need Help Finding Something?
Our guided search will walk you through all the content available on ResponderHelp, and get you to what you need fast.
Get Started Now