“Firefighters attempting to uncover the truth about carcinogens in their protective clothing are confronted with the same playbook chemical companies have used for decades: twisting science to deny and downplay the dangers of their products.
E&E News obtained copies of those studies, which were conducted by the firm Exponent, a company known for distorting science to question proven health effects of chemicals — including whether smoking tobacco causes lung cancer (Greenwire, Oct. 12, 2020). Exponent’s studies only found limited amounts of PFOA on Lion gear but used questionable methodology, said Kyla Bennett, science policy director at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, who reviewed the studies for E&E News.”