The people who choose to become firefighters are voluntarily putting themselves in harm’s way, which is why they are widely considered some of the greatest heroes in our society. However, while the risks to their health and lives from direct injury while fighting fires are obvious, there’s another, more insidious long-term risk from exposure to chemicals, including PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are used in fire-suppressing foams and turnout gear.
Occupational exposure in firefighting has now been designated as “carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Exposure to “forever chemicals” is being cited as a factor in the elevated rate of certain cancers within the firefighter profession, including bladder, colon, prostate, and testicular cancers and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A 2025 study has found that PFAS have caused epigenetic changes in firefighters, which could lead to the development of neurological disorders, cancers, and autoimmune conditions.
Exposure to PFAS is seemingly unavoidable for firefighters, but one area in which firefighters can make a change is in the firehouse kitchen, where those legendary crew meals are often prepared using nonstick cookware coated with PFAS. Swapping them out for stainless steel pots and pans is an easily achievable step towards establishing a healthier work environment.
How Firefighters Are Already Exposed to PFAS Daily
PFAS have been routinely used in firefighting since the 1960’s, despite warnings as early as the 1970’s that they could be toxic. Today, PFAS are still commonly found in many elements of the firefighter’s work environment. A new study has found that the levels of certain PFAS are elevated when firefighters were tested within 2 days of a fire event, indicating a need to reduce the use of PFAS to reduce the risk.
Turnout Gear
PFAS were first used in turnout gear in 1976 and are still used today, although some fire departments are phasing them out. There are three layers to turnout gear, and PFAS are used in the top 2 layers. Both the outer shell and the middle moisture barrier contain PFAS. And while the thermal layer next to the skin is theoretically free of PFAS, these toxic chemicals can migrate off the treated layers and end up permeating the thermal layer, leading to direct skin exposure. In addition, every time a firefighter touches the outer shell or moisture barrier, they’re transferring some of the PFAS to their hands, which can then be transferred to food when eating.
Overall, this direct physical contact with PFAS by every firefighter is a huge toxic load for them to be exposed to every time they suit up to fight a fire. There is now PFAS-free turnout gear available, and fire departments are starting to change over, but switching will be an expensive procedure that will take time to accomplish. In the meantime, turnout gear should be kept out of living areas, and kept in sealed containers when carried in vehicles.
Firefighting Foam (AFFF)
By the late 1970’s, foams with PFAS were in common use by fire departments across the country, and within 20 years, it was commonly known that these toxic chemicals were a serious risk not just to the environment, but to the health of the firefighters who use them. Firefighters can inhale droplets when fighting a fire, or have them land on their skin.
In the short term, many departments are switching to foams free of PFAS for firefighting practice. Longer-term, manufacturers are developing PFAS-free foams for use in actual fire events.
Contaminated Station Environments
Fire stations themselves can contribute substantially to PFAS exposure for firefighters. After all, on average, 72% of a 24-hour shift is spent at the fire station. Dust studies have shown elevated levels of PFAS in the areas of fire stations most exposed to PFAS, usually where the turnout gear is cleaned and stored. Rates are lower where fire departments have started to phase out the use of AFFFs containing PFAS and turnout gear treated with PFAS.
The Overlooked Exposure Point: The Firehouse Kitchen
Because firefighters work 24-hour shifts, they’re eating meals at the firehouse when on duty, and those crew meals are the stuff of legend: pots of slow-stewed chili with fresh-baked cornbread, grilled burgers, hearty casseroles, and sheet pan dinners finished under the broiler. The firehouse kitchen is in constant use, and the cookware has to be able to withstand the considerable wear and tear associated with cooking multiple meals a day for large groups.
While they’re not ideal for any cook, non-stick cookware is an especially poor choice for the firehouse kitchen. Their coatings will degrade through scratching, overheating and just the regular wear-and-tear of heavy daily use, releasing PFAS into the food as it cooks, as well as off-gassing into the air. They then need to be replaced, often on an annual basis.
Why Reducing Take-Home and Cumulative Exposure Matters
While reducing PFAS exposure through eliminating non-stick cookware may seem like a relatively minor step in creating a safer work environment for firefighters, it’s one of the few places where the firefighters can fully control the presence of these toxic chemicals. This, in addition to current efforts by fire departments and governments to remove PFAS from turnout gear and AFFF, can go a long way towards making firefighting a safer profession.
Why Stainless Steel Is a Practical Swap
It makes sense for firehouse kitchens to swap out non-stick cookware for stainless steel pots and pans, both for the health benefits and savings over time:
No PTFE/PFAS Coating
Quality stainless steel pans have a surgical stainless steel cooking surface, with no coating that can get scratched or wear off, or off-gas when used at high heat. No toxic chemicals will end up in your food.
Durability for Institutional Use
There’s a reason that commercial kitchens and institutions tend to use stainless steel cookware. They get used hard, and the inevitable dents and scratches don’t compromise safety: there’s nothing to flake off or seep into food as it is cooked. With non-stick, it’s inevitable that some toxic chemicals will end up transferring to your food.
As well, with non-stick pans, you have to be careful about not using them over high heat to avoid off-gassing of PFAS, but that’s never an issue with stainless steel. In other words, it’s safe to sear with stainless steel!
Finally, stainless steel pans are easier to clean and sanitize, as there’s no coating to be worn away in the cleaning process. In the shared-use, high-turnover environment of a firehouse kitchen, that’s an important point to keep in mind when choosing cookware.
Practical Tips for Firehouse Kitchens
One of the great advantages of purchasing high-quality stainless steel cookware is that it’s a one-and-done deal: unlike non-stick pans, good pans will last for decades and still deliver the same high performance that cooks appreciate. That’s no less important in a fire station than in a home kitchen. To that end, it’s important to realize that not all stainless steel pots and pans are created equal. If you’re looking to upgrade your fire station kitchen, make sure you’re getting the best product for your department’s money.
360 Cookware has the quality you need for long-term heavy institutional use. All our pots and pans have three layers, with a high-conductivity layer of aluminum sandwiched between 2 layers of surgical-grade stainless steel, so you get both excellent cooking performance along with the safety of a non-toxic cooking surface. The handles are securely riveted to ensure that they won’t come loose, also important in a busy fire station kitchen.
Worried about switching to stainless steel from non-stick? Once you’ve mastered the technique of preheating the pan and then lightly oiling the surface before adding food, you’ll find that stainless steel can perform as well as non-stick, without the risks of PFAS in that trendy coating.
It’s not necessary to start off with a complete swap for stainless steel, given that your station budget needs to be considered. But as those non-stick pans age out (which will happen sooner in the high-use environment of a fire station kitchen!), start by replacing the most frequently used items with stainless steel, such as large stockpots or fry pans. Expand your stainless steel collection as needed. And remember: you won’t need to replace this quality cookware in a few years. They’re an investment for life, and in the health of your crew!
Conclusion
It would be ironic if, with new innovations in PFAS-free foams and turnout gear, that the most easily replaced source of PFAS in the firefighting environment remained unaltered. In fact, it’s an easier fix to replace non-stick cookware with quality stainless steel than any of the other areas of exposure for firefighters.
Replacing non-stick cookware with PFAS-free stainless steel pots and pans from 360 Cookware is a way to take some control over your exposure to these toxic chemicals by eliminating their contamination of those iconic fire station crew meals. It’s never too soon to start making the switch to durable, non-toxic, superior-performance stainless steel cookware for your fire station kitchen!
