Day: January 14, 2025

A firefighter’s protective clothing is composed of three distinct layers made of different textiles. In response to concerns about the gear possibly exposing firefighters to PFAS chemicals — several of which have been linked to cancer — NIST researchers investigated the presence of the chemicals in textiles used to make the layers. This latest study analyzed hoods and gloves worn in structural fires as well as protective clothing worn to fight wildfires. Credit: B. Hayes/NIST. Credit: B. Hayes/NIST The protective clothing worn by wildland firefighters often contains PFAS, according to a new study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The study also found PFAS in hoods and gloves worn by firefighters who respond to building fires. PFAS – which stands for ‘per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances’ – are a category of chemicals used in a wide range of products. In high concentrations, PFAS may have harmful health effects on people. Firefighters have more PFAS in their blood than the average person. It isn’t clear why, but one theory is that it comes from the protective equipment they wear during a fire – called turnout gear. “Our latest study showed that PFAS are present not only in the jacket and pants worn by firefighters, but also in many of the smaller protective garments,” said NIST Chemist and Study Co-author Rick Davis, “Measuring the presence of the chemicals is the first step in understanding their impact on firefighters.” The NIST studies do not assess the health risks that firefighters might face due to the presence of PFAS in turnout gear. However, they provide previously unavailable data that toxicologists, epidemiologists and other health experts can use to assess those risks. NIST conducted these studies at the behest of Congress, which called on NIST to study PFAS in firefighter gear in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. PFAS are everywhere. They don’t react very easily with other chemicals, so they make very effective nonstick surfaces, lubricants and food packaging. But the fact that they’re unreactive also means that they don’t break down easily. These chemicals stay in the environment for a long time, which is why they are sometimes called ‘forever chemicals.’ Fabrics containing PFAS are often used to make firefighting gear because these chemicals are very good at repelling water. Part of the standard for firefighter gear requires a minimum amount of water resistance to prevent steam burns and provide protection from chemicals. Water resistance also tends to make gear safer because heat can travel much more efficiently through water than through air. For example, a dry potholder will let you safely pull a hot dish out of an oven. But that same dish can give you a third-degree burn in just one second if the potholder is wet. NIST researchers have been running a series of experiments to understand how much PFAS are in that equipment. The two prior NIST studies looked at the level of PFAS in firefighter coats and pants and how wear and tear can increase the amount of measurable PFAS in these garments. This latest study, published on Dec. 13, analyzed gloves and hoods worn by structural firefighters (those who fight fires in buildings), as well as gear worn by wildland firefighters. The researchers were particularly interested in hoods and gloves because they come in direct contact with skin, as opposed to coats and pants that are worn over a base layer. Wildland gear includes the protective shirt and pants worn for fighting wildfires. It’s designed for long treks over difficult terrain, so it trades off some heat protection for mobility. Unlike the thick, heavy coat and pants used to fight a structural fire, wildland gear is like something you might wear camping with extra heat protection. The NIST team tested four types of gloves, eight types of hoods, and nine types of wildland firefighter gear from several manufacturers of firefighter gear in 2021-23. All these garments are commercially available. Our latest study showed that PFAS are present not only in the jacket and pants worn by firefighters, but also in many of the smaller protective garments Rick DavisNIST Chemist and Study Co-author The researchers pulled the garments apart into 32 textile samples and extracted PFAS from the samples into a solvent. Then they tested each solvent to see if it contained any of 55 different PFAS chemicals. After running these tests, Davis and his team found measurable amounts of PFAS in 25 of the 32 textile samples. Across those samples, they found 19 different types of PFAS. “There was a range in the amount of PFAS we found in each sample,” said Davis, “Most had only a little, but a few had large amounts.” The hoods contained low PFAS levels. In almost all cases, the amount of PFAS in hood layers was too small to be measured confidently. The inside layers of the gloves had amounts of PFAS similar to those found in the inside layers of coats and pants tested in prior studies. Wildland gear is made of only one layer. The assumption among researchers was that this layer was unlikely to contain much PFAS. In general that was true, as most of the wildland gear tested had low levels of PFAS. But there were some cases that had notably high levels. Across all the textiles tested in this study, the largest total concentration of PFAS in a single sample was about 4,240 micrograms per kilogram from a piece of wildland gear. “We still don’t know what this means in terms of risk to a firefighter’s health,” said Davis, “But understanding where PFAS is will help us reduce potential impacts as we learn more about these chemicals.” The researchers plan to run a follow-up study on the same samples to see how wear and tear might increase the amount of detectable PFAS in hoods, gloves and wildland firefighter gear. Read more posts

Traditional cameras, which rely solely on visible light, have limitations in their ability to monitor and detect in challenging conditions such as darkness, fog, or other visual obstructions. To overcome these limitations, the industry is increasingly adopting non-visible light perception technologies such as thermal imaging, radar, x-ray and audio. By tapping into the non-visible light spectrum, these technologies enhance monitoring capabilities by detecting heat signatures, movement and details that would otherwise go unnoticed. This not only enhances security applications, such as surveillance in complete darkness or adverse weather, but also opens up new opportunities in fields like healthcare, industrial inspection, and environmental monitoring. To further explore the adoption of these advanced technologies, asmag.com and Hikvision have partnered up to conduct a survey examining the deployment and full potential of four key non-visible light technologies: thermal imaging, audio, x-ray and millimeter radar. Key findings Thermal imaging and audio lead in non-visible light tech deployment Survey data shows that thermal imaging (72%) and audio technology (57%) are the most widely deployed technologies by respondents, followed by X-ray technology (31%) and millimeter radar technology (29%). Audio technology has become a valuable component of security applications, and recent advancements have further expanded its capabilities. The transition to IP-based audio solutions has facilitated integration with existing surveillance systems, enhancing communication and sound warnings. Moreover, the incorporation of two-way audio into surveillance cameras has enabled real-time interaction with individuals in the field. While X-ray and radar technologies are gaining traction, their adoption rates remain lower than thermal and audio solutions. Factors such as cost, complexity and regulatory restrictions may contribute to this. As these challenges are addressed and technological advancements continue, we can anticipate further growth in the adoption of X-ray and radar in various sectors. Customer demand alignment with current market deployment Customer demand seems to align closely with the technologies being offered, especially for thermal imaging and audio solutions. Survey data shows that thermal imaging has the highest level of inquiries, with 15% of respondents indicating that they are always asked about it, 24% often and 39% sometimes. Similarly, audio technology also sees strong demand, with 16% reporting that it was always requested and 24% often. These figures suggest that the market is effectively meeting customer needs for these two technologies. However, demand for X-ray technology and millimeter radar outpaces their current deployment. While 42% of respondents receive inquiries for X-ray (5% always, 10% often, 27% sometimes), only 31% of solutions providers offer it. Similarly, millimeter radar is requested by 37% of respondents (2% always, 11% often, 24% sometimes), but only 29% offer it. This suggests that while customer interest is growing, existing challenges are limiting deployment. The gap suggests a potential opportunity for vendors to expand their offerings if they can address these challenges effectively. Security remains primary reason for adoption Across all technologies, security remains the primary reason for adoption. A significant 69% of respondents cited the need to enhance detection in low-light or challenging environments as a key motivator, with 49% focusing on proactive threat detection and management and 41% seeking to improve situational awareness through multi-dimensional perception. This strong emphasis on security aligns with the high demand for thermal imaging and audio technologies, which have been proven to enhance surveillance and communication in real-time security operations. Interestingly, the survey results showed that there is a growing trend towards expanding applications beyond security, with 41% of respondents indicating this as a reason for adoption. Moreover, another equal percentage (41%) cited the need to meet customer requests and project requirements. This correlation suggests a customer-centric approach in the industry, where providers are responding to specific client needs and preferences. Technology insights, applications by industry Thermal technology Security/perimeter protection remains the primary application for thermal imaging, accounting for 86% of responses. Other top applications include early fire and smoke detection (65%), industrial equipment monitoring (53%) and body temperature monitoring (43%). These applications align with the unique capabilities of thermal imaging, which detects objects based on their heat signature. Respondent quotes further support these findings: The top five verticals for thermal imaging deployment are energy infrastructure, factories, transportation, healthcare, and office/corporate buildings. This is consistent with its ability to improve situational awareness and detect potential hazards. For instance, in energy infrastructure, it can also be used to monitor equipment overheating. What are the primary applications of thermal imaging technology for your projects/ customers? Audio technology Security ranks a solid No. 1 (88%) as the primary application for audio technology. Indeed, audio solutions such as intercoms, public address systems and warning messages have been deployed for security purposes for many years. Today, audio and video surveillance can be integrated, enabling warning messages to be played back on a speaker when a potential intruder/ loiterer is detected. Non-security applications are also cited, for example industrial equipment monitoring (47%) and background music (41%). The top verticals for audio solution deployment are retail, factories, energy infrastructure, office/corporate buildings and healthcare. This is not a surprise – retail stores, for example, are known to use PA systems for both security and background music, and factories use audio analytics for equipment monitoring. It’s important to note that the audio industry is transitioning to IP-based solutions, similar to the growth of IP surveillance. This shift is expected to drive significant growth in the audio technology market as organizations adopt more advanced and integrated solutions. What are the primary applications of audio technology for your projects/ customers? Millimeter radar technology Security and traffic management are the primary applications for respondents, accounting for 81% and 64% of responses respectively. Radar works by emitting signals into the environment and processing the reflected signals to determine the speed, size and distance of those objects. This makes radar ideal for both security and transportation, for use cases such as speed measurement and traffic flow detection. Compared to cameras, radar offers several advantages, including the ability to cover large areas and operate independently of weather conditions. Radar can also be combined with PTZ cameras to provide…