a bygone DuPont advertisement …
2024 Firefighter PFAS Actions ~ A
YEAR IN REVIEW ~
2024
JANUARY 10, 2024 — CAPITOL HILL SCREENING OF BURNED, PROTECTING THE PROTECTORS,
Hosted by EWG, IAFF, Congressman Jim McGovern
Senator Shaheen Urges Action to Eliminate PFAS from Firefighter Gear Following Findings in New NIST Report -
Open Democracy Andrew Kersley UK Revealed: Environment Agency invested £15m in ‘forever chemical’ firms
Taxpayers’ money pumped into companies that produce PFAS, despite health and environmental warnings
Risking their lives ! Republic — American, by Levi Stanford — Multi part series — ‘THEIR STORIES’ https://www.rep-am.com/firefighter-danger/
Spotlight on America ~ Lisa Fletcher and Andrea Nejman
SPOTLIGHT ON AMERICA ~ Lisa Fletcher:
Leaders in Congress push for action to protect fire fighters from cancer-causing chemicals McGovern is continuing his fight to do just that, backing legislation that would ban PFAS in firefighter gear. But for now, he’s losing patience for the inaction in Washington.
“How the hell were we so complacent for all these years? It’s gonna be something we look back on with great shame,” he exclaimed. “I mean, what the hell are we waiting for?”
Shaheen urges action to eliminate PFAS from firefighter gear following new data on hazards https://dodfirenews.blogspot.com/2024/01/shaheen-urges-action-to-eliminate-pfas.html
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THE POISON DETECTIVES ~ Podcast Series by Sandra Bartlett for Canada’s National Observer
TRAILER
THE SECRET INGREDIENT * WHO’S MINDING THE STORE?
THE BEST REGULATIONS MONEY CAN BUY *
THEY DEVIL THEY KNEW * TOXIC JUSTICE
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MARCH
Sen. Booker, Rep. Soto float bill to compensate firefighters exposed to toxic chemicals https://nypost.com/2024/03/21/us-news/sen-booker-rep-soto-float-bill-to-compensate-firefighters-exposed-to-toxic-chemicals/
SPECTRUM NEWS ~ Devin Bates WORCESTER, Mass. — The wife of a former Worcester firefighter who has spent years sounding the alarm about an alleged presence of cancer-causing chemicals in firefighting gear believes change and accountability are closer than ever before.
The implications of National Institute of Standards and Technology’s groundbreaking study on PFAS in firefighter gear
by Iain Hoey for International Fire and Safety Journal
San Francisco Weighs Ban on PFAS in Firefighter Gear — San Francisco is considering an ordinance that would prohibit the city fire department from using turnout gear that contains PFAS.
Lawyers Say Firefighter Turnout Gear Lawsuits Require Separate Fact Sheets from AFFF and PFAS Water Exposure Claims
THE FIREFIGHTER SERIAL KILLER ~ Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with Diane Cotter https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UQY1NdlsK4U3FmikuKay1
‘RFK Jr Podcast’: Wife of Firefighter Stricken With Cancer Becomes PFAS Industry ‘Nightmare’ ~ Children’s Health Defense
APRIL
NEW EPA LIMITS FOR PFAS IN WATER ~PBS and EWG
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-new-epa-limits-on-forever-chemicals-mean-for-u-s-drinking-water
Firefighting Gear Without PFAS Heads to North American Cities- Pat Rizzuto / Bloomberg
Virginia Beach firefighters, family bring $1.5 billion PFAS exposure lawsuit against more than 20 companies
MAY
ken cook is having another episode…. WITH dIANE COTTER AND PETER ARLEIN ~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkcWGH6x0pM
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Multidistrict PFAS Trials Foreseen in 2025 on Varied Issues -
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE PERSONAL INJURY PLAINTFFS AS WE SEE THE CANCERS THAT ARE COVERED IN THE BELLWETHER TRIALS AND THE PLANS FOR THOSE NOT COVERED.
Bloomberg News by Pat Rizzuto
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/multidistrict-pfas-trials-foreseen-into-2025-on-separate-issues
see also: TIMELINE NOW IN PLACE FOR DISCOVERY ETC…
Cancer is killing firefighters. So this city is going PFAS-free.
San Francisco is the first major American city to ban the substance from protective gear.
BURNED-PROTECTING THE PROTECTORS will be available free to the public on August 2nd, 2024: Life Scan Wellness Centers to Show ‘Burned’ Documentary ~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZUKP7iheu0
JUNE
Diane Cotter’s Fight Against Firemen Cancer Epidemic
Kellen Jones for The Dallas Express ~ https://dallasexpress.com/profiles/diane-cotters-fight-against-firemen-cancer-epidemic/
Dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ absorb through human skin, study finds
More Than 4,000 CT Firefighters Sue 3M DuPont Over Cancer-Causing Chemicals in Turnout Gear Firefighter Nation
https://www.firefighternation.com/apparatus/over-4000-ct-firefighters-sue-3m-dupont-over-cancer-causing-chemicals-in-turnout-gear/
COMPLAINT: https://static.sgtlaw.com/docs/uniformed-professional-firefighters-v-3m-complaint.pdfScientists found another way we’re exposed to ‘forever chemicals’: Through our skin — Washington Post
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024003581
‘Beyond disgraceful’: Bill to protect firefighters from PFAS stalls in State House Brad Petrishen Worcester Telegram & Gazette July 12, 2024.
and… Senate leaders dismiss amendments targeting PFAS in firefighting gear https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/2024/07/23/ma-senate-leaders-pfas-firefighting/74519072007/
JULY ~ we learn of the parameters regarding firefighter PFAS exposures and specific cancers in the personal injury MDL set by Judge Gergel : Pat Rizzuto for Bloomberg Law: Dispute on Strategy to Resolve PFAS Injury Claims Sent to Judge
Activist Diane Cotter Calls Out VP Harris Over PFAS Flipflop
Why, you ask? When I saw Kamala speaking to a large group of firefighters I recalled the day I lobbied on Capitol Hill, spoke with her receiving staff, left a 27 page packet. Her actions were no different from many — EXCEPT, I recalled the messages I received from firefighters in her Cali region showing me the comments said about me by and my claims in 2018/2019 by the highest ranking officer in the union in cali. We lost so many years to Schaitberger. This leader now understands. He’s told me so. Still I can’t express how angry it made me to see her YEARS later speaking on this. It’s personal of course. Yes, I undersatand it’s a good thing. We lost five years. Five entire years.
Kellen McGovern Jones — Investigative Reporter
https://dallasexpress.com/national/activist-diane-cotter-calls-out-vp-harris-over-pfas-flipflop/
…. CONNECTICUIT FIRE UNIONS FILE CLAIMS FOR MEMBERS — GROUNDBREAKING !!! SPECIFIC TO THE PFAS IN THE GEAR : https://www.fireengineering.com/apparatus-equipment/two-more-ct-fire-departments-sign-on-to-pfas-lawsuit-over-turnout-gear/
then this happens !!! LED BY sENATOR mIKE mOORE, THE hOUSE PASSES THE STRONGETST LANGUAGE IN THE NATION ON REMOVING PFAS FROM BUNKER GEAR !! the race is on !!
MA Senate passes ban on PFAS in firefighter turnout gear. Will House act?
August ……………… burned ~ protecting the protectors now free to the public : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZUKP7iheu0
CHIEF Todd LeDuc put on one hell of an event in Miami with the team for the global release https://x.com/ToddJLeDuc/status/1809283860502610343
“Burned” documentary sparks awareness about firefighting gear awash in carcinogenic water repellent chemicals: Spotlight on Chief Richard Birt Las Vegas Fire (ret’d) — and close personal friend of Mark Ruffalo :
August 1st:
IMMEDIATLY upon the signing of S.2902, the executive board of the PFFM, led by Rich MacKinnon, converted on the the House, the 23 hour seige of the WARDOGS will be a lesson in the history books of how this bill was passed (at least in my memoir it is).
A call to action by PFFM was put out and social media took up the challenge. Now, when I tell you there was tension I’m putting it mildly.. If you’ve eber been on the receiving end of a WARDOG stare down you’ll know what I’m talking about… these SOB’S did it..
Bill banning PFAS in firefighter gear passes House, on its way to governor !!! https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/2024/08/01/bill-banning-pfas-in-firefighter-gear-passes-ma-house/74628940007/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0I_PN0pAhM56TWyEgqfsW3_gsz3YCpLCyopeYWfV2ZoM09-tBUM4-sQv8_aem_HYKWfQxjKWOQD1zobgGzxg
meanwhile… dALLAS eXPRESS ~ DuPont Claims No Responsibility Over PFAS in Firemen’s Gear Kellen McGovern Jones — Investigative Reporter
https://dallasexpress.com/business-markets/dupont-claims-no-responsibility-over-pfas-in-firemens-gear/
…DALLAS EXPRESS, KELLEN MCGOVERN JONES: NEW FIREFIGHTER SPECIFIC PFAS STUDY https://dallasexpress.com/state/texas-professor-leads-groundbreaking-pfas-study/
~~~~ signed !!! the strongest language in the nation !!! S.2902 … 7 YEARS IN THE MAKING !!!! PFAS IN TURNOUT GEAR OUTLAWED IN MASS/2027 !!!
https://www.telegram.com/story/news/state/2024/08/15/mass-pfas-ban-firefighting-gear-signing/74804204007/
Massachusetts to become first state to enforce PFAS ban in firefighting equipment https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/massachusetts-become-first-state-enforce-pfas-ban-firefighting-equipment/OGUEJNJD5VHU3NIM5CZMVESZQI/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=66be817c93b26400015d7444&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR02lxj85z14tK9u7WK_xVK2JjGjFD5xT1BQ4BwbGQHZzp-y85rJ6o01GtQ_aem_G89FCPYOuBJtgI7kWV4bQQ
and…https://www.wcvb.com/article/new-massachusetts-firefighter-gear-law-bans-pfas/61892046
and… https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/pfas-chemicals-ban-fire-gear-massachusetts/
AND IT’S ONLY AUGUST 21ST !!!
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22ND…. SIXDEGREES.ORG IS~~~ SHIPPING UPTA BOSTON ~~~~ with a focus on FIREFIGHTER MENTAL HEALTH !!!
An extraordinary effort by Kevin Bacon and his amazing team: Stacy Huston and Brigid Zuknick in colloboration with PFFM and IAFF !!! THANK YOU SPONSORS !!!! https://newslinklive.com/2024/08/18/activist-diane-cotter-will-join-kevin-bacons-sixdegrees-org-to-assemble-mental-health-kits-for-firefighters-in-boston/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3HzBwqPvB7
Friday, August 23rd, Tom Putnam for ~ The Guardian
Two states become first in US to ban use of PFAS in firefighters’ protective gear
SEPTEMBER
RICO BABY !!!!!
‘PFAS . . . everywhere’: A Mass. class action lawsuit may set a new standard for damages
Environmental and industry groups are closely watching the case ahead of an expected ‘tsunami’ of PFAS lawsuits
RICO Ruling Reshapes PFAS Litigation
Fire engineering ~ humpday hangout; “Backroom deals in our backyards” ~ Miranda Spivack’s upcoming book on five accidental activists ~ with Frank Ricci, Pj Norwood, and Diane Cotter
https://www.fireengineering.com/firefighting/humpday-hangout-backroom-deals-in-our-backyards/
https://thenewpress.com/books/backroom-deals-our-backyards
This story is part of HEATED’s series on Project 2025
by Arielle Samuelson for HEATED
If Project 2025’s proposals are made policy by the next conservative president, she said it would have “devastating effects” on the work of activists, scientists, and environmental groups that have worked for years to make incremental progress.
“We cannot afford to go back one step,” she said. “You can’t give up anything in this war.”
https://heated.world/p/magas-scariest-environmental-proposal
OCTOBER
Fall River firefighter wins years-long fight against PFAS in gear. What does he do now? Dan Medeiros for The Herald News
BEHIND THE SHIELD WITH JAMES GEERING ~ Diane Cotter
Activist Diane Cotter is calling out those whom she believes abandoned the fight to protect firefighters from cancer when it mattered most.
Kellen McGovern Jones for The Dallas Express ~
Cotter has set her aim on Vice President Kamala Harris and the former International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) leadership. She contends that they have ignored the dangers of cancer-causing chemicals in fire gear.
Eternal contaminants detected in firefighters’ combat clothing
Analyses carried out on behalf of Enquête confirm the high presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in materials used to make firefighters’ combat clothing, increasing the risk of cancer to which they are already overexposed due to their work.
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/info/long-format/2119707/contaminants-habits-pompiers-pfas-cancer Radio Canada by Sylvie Fournier
DECEMBER
Struggling to adapt ~ Facing toxic exposure from turnout gear and firefighting foam, firefighters need support to reduce risks
https://mainemorningstar.com/2024/12/12/struggling-to-adapt/
A SERIES By: Marina Schauffler — Thursday December 12, 2024 ~ Pulitzer Center SERIES HERE: https://mainemorningstar.com/author/marina-schauffler/
PFAS detected in firefighter gloves, hoods, and wildland gear: Part 3 of the 4 year National Institute for Science and Technology project on PFAS in PPE. First appropriated in 2019 by Senator Shaheen Chair of Science and Technology.
Senator Shaheen did what was right when the Schaitberger administration fought tooth and nail to obstruct work in this lane. We are seeing the fruits of her righteous actions now. ~diane cotter
https://phys.org/news/2024-12-pfas-firefighter-gloves-hoods-wildland.html
MDL — Personal Injury PPE/AFFF Lawsuit Detailed Update:
https://www.lawsuit-information-center.com/amp/afff-firefighting-foam-lawsuit.html#settlement
Milliken & Company Becomes First Textile Manufacturer to Offer Non-PFAS Materials for Every Layer of Firefighter Turnout Gear
DAMN !!! WE’VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE 2018 WHEN MILLIKEN CLAIMED, “BUT THE NEW PFAS IS TEN TIMES LESS TOXIC” !!! …
DALLAS AG KEN BROWN SUING PFAS MAKERS FOR ‘DECEPTIVE PRACTICES’ RE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS!!
by Kellen Jones for Dallas Express ~
Diane Cotter adds her usual two cents: https://dallasexpress.com/national/paxton-announces-pfas-lawsuit/