Kelly Passes Bill to Phase Out Health-Hazardous Chemicals in Firefighting Equipment

CHICAGO — Illinois’ firefighters may soon be safer while protecting their communities because of a bill passed by state Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, that phases out the use of chemical substances in firefighters’ protective gear that has recently been linked to long-term health problems in many firefighters.

“Our firefighters risk everything to keep their communities safe and to save lives and property, but recent studies show that they’ve been risking—and too often sacrificing—even more than we knew,” Kelly said. “PFAS chemicals are present in a wide range of firefighting equipment and the impacts on the health and wellness of our firefighters is unacceptable. That’s why I’m taking action.”

PFAS—also known as per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances or “forever chemicals”—are long-lasting, man-made substances currently used in a wide variety of industrial and home applications. More recent science has revealed that these chemicals remain in the environment, including inside the bodies of living things, indefinitely. Additionally, this research links PFAS to cancer and other health conditions.

Kelly’s House Bill 2409 phases out the legal sale or distribution of firefighting equipment that contains PFAS by January 1, 2030. The delay is necessary because PFAS are contained in such a wide range of firefighting equipment that an immediate ban would risk making it difficult for fire departments to obtain sufficient amounts of critical equipment.

The bill is named after Deputy Chief Pete Bendinelli, a veteran firefighter who passed away due to health conditions related to PFAS exposure.

Kelly advanced the bill through the Illinois House of Representatives and it now awaits further consideration in the Senate.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve found out that a widely used substance is toxic, but the difference now is that our ability to understand and execute the needed changes is more developed,” Kelly said. “The legacy of this legislation is that no more Illinois families will need to face the pain and loss that the Bendinelli family now is. Our firefighters deserve to be kept as safe as we can make  them, which is why it’s so important to get this bill passed in the Senate, to the Governor’s desk and signed into law.”