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Blexcr0id t1_j63z8rj wrote

Reply to comment by PastNectarine5852 in Firefighters Union Pushes to Rid Protective Gear of ‘Forever Chemicals’ - WSJ by Etheking

I heard years ago that there was a protein-based firefighting foam invented in the 80s/90s. Would be interested to see if that was true. Would been to consider BOD/COD in firefighting water runoff but that's definitely better than PFAS/PFOA/PFXX.

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PastNectarine5852 t1_j63zs3j wrote

Fluoroprotein foams exist! But still contain pfas.

https://www.ansul.com/en/us/pages/ProductDetail.aspx?productdetail=Fluoroprotein+Foam#:~:text=Fluoroprotein%20foams%20are%20derived%20from,used%20in%20much%20lower%20concentrations.

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Blexcr0id t1_j642cqo wrote

Interesting. Thank you. There must be a better solution out there that is relatively safe and effective, but I guess the chemical companies that produce and sell the existing firefighting foams wouldn't be able to maximize profit for shareholders...

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PastNectarine5852 t1_j643wwj wrote

They all sell fluorine free foams, so they'd still make money.

Studies at the Naval Research Labs have shown that fluorinated foams just perform better, and for a while, the US govt (particularly DoD) required fluorinated foams. That's changing, but the performance differences have slowed the change to fluorine free versions.

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2017249/naval-research-lab-chemists-search-for-pfas-free-firefighting-foam/

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piecat t1_j67o96q wrote

I don't think I'd mind PFAs being used during, say, war time.

It's the fact that they practice with them all the time.

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