Online Workshop Explores Research on the Transfer of Toxic Chemicals in Firefighter Gear

In August 2025, more than 222 participants from around the world gathered for an online workshop to discuss toxic chemical contamination in firefighter gear and other fire-related exposure risks. The workshop "Understanding the Movement of Toxic Chemicals through Firefighters' Protective Clothing and PPE" was led by the Fire Safety Engineering Research and Technology Centre at Ulster University. Ulster University hosted this workshop as part of their Toxic Chemicals Transfer in PPE (InToxFIRE) project, which is supported by the Fire Safety Research Institute and funded by UL Research Institutes through the Discoveries in Safety grants program. As part of the workshop, FSRI’s research engineer Richard Kesler presented on a series of experiments recently conducted to investigate the chemicals and possible carcinogens released during electric vehicle fires.

Progress on the Project Exploring Toxic Chemical Transfer Through Firefighter Gear

One purpose of the workshop was to share an update on the Toxic Chemicals Transfer Through PPE project. This project explores which toxic chemicals penetrate firefighter gear through the fabric’s breathable membranes and in what concentrations, providing insights into current turnout gear protection levels. Ulster University postdoctoral research associate Hamed Rasouli Sadabad presented the three-phase experiment plan and initial phase-one findings.

Rasouli Sadabad and his team are currently conducting small-scale experiments with ~4-inch-wide swatches of firefighter protective jackets. They are simulating fire events and comparing the amount of chemicals transferred through the membranes of two types of gear, one containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and one without. He shared findings specifically on the transfer of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Though more experimentation is needed, the preliminary findings include:

• Gear with and without PFAS membranes is effective against large PAHs,
• Naphthalene (a smaller type of PAH) and its derivatives can penetrate both types of gear membranes,
• Gear with PFAS membranes provides better barrier protection against linear compounds, and
• Gear with PFAS membranes may release fluoride-containing compounds on the side exposed to fire.

“Fire generates a wide range of chemicals, some of which are toxic, carcinogenic, irritant, etc. [...] Exposure to these chemicals is likely to impose loads of acute and long-term health problems to humans and other creatures, as well as to the whole environment.”

— Hamed Rasouli Sadabad, postdoctoral research associate, Ulster University

Toxic Chemicals in Firefighter Gear Linked to Chemical Release During Vehicle Fires

The rest of the workshop featured presentations from various international experts, covering topics from protective gear effectiveness to decontamination procedures. Among the speakers was Richard Kesler from FSRI, who presented an overview of the recently completed series of experiments comparing the chemical composition of electric vehicle fires with that of traditional fuel vehicle fires. These experiments are part of the Fire Safety of Batteries and Electric Vehicles project at FSRI.

In this project, researchers conducted full-scale vehicle burns and measured fire behavior, turnout gear swatch contamination, and sample smoke plumes through sampling stations placed around the vehicle. The operational level analysis found that EVs take more time to ignite, though both types of vehicles burn for similar amounts of time and release similar amounts of carcinogens from their batteries. This experiment has branched into EV fire suppression analysis, as FSRI researchers are investigating possible techniques to suppress EV fires, including the use of fire blankets. Findings from this study may inform future improvements to PPE design and material, helping to better protect firefighters from chemical exposures during fire response.

Key Takeaways to Better Understand The Risk of Toxic Chemicals in Firefighter Gear

The workshop highlighted the value of bringing together international perspectives to advance firefighter PPE protection. The diverse audience included firefighters, fire safety engineers, researchers, members of the fire and rescue service, academics, PPE manufacturing professionals, decontamination experts, and government officials, which fostered rich cross-sector dialogue about the complex challenges facing firefighter PPE protection. Key themes that emerged included the level of protection provided by different types of protective gear, the need for standardized decontamination procedures, and the importance of balancing chemical protection with thermal protection in PPE design.

To learn more about this workshop, visit the InToxFIRE website.