Iowa State University Researchers Develop Wearable System to Track Firefighter Contaminant Exposure
Researchers at Iowa State University, led by Guowen Song, a professor of apparel, events and hospitality and director of the NextGen Personal Protective Technology Program, are developing a wearable exposure monitoring system for firefighters. This initiative aims to track exposure to contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from fire scenes to fire stations and other areas. The team is burning various materials, including batteries and plastics, to study how invisible residues adhere to firefighters' gear and the effectiveness of current decontamination methods, which Song states are inadequate for the nature of modern fire contaminants. The Iowa Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Exposure Reduction Program, launched in July, collaborates with several partners, including the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, to address this issue. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has f...
