Starfield-Lion is providing notice to Canadian purchasers of certain turnout gear containing PFAS chemicals, otherwise known as Perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS substances are commonly defined as a "class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom."  Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (also known as PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (also known as PFOA) are types of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Starfield-Lion does not add or employ the use of PFAS chemicals in our assembly processes. Starfield-Lion purchases moisture barriers and fabrics from textile manufacturers for incorporation into our personal protective equipment.

Since the end of 2021, all outer shells and thermal liner fabrics in Starfield-Lion turnout gear that are treated with durable water repellent (DWR) finishes have DWR finishes made without fluorinated chemistry.

According to WL Gore and Associates, and Stedfast, Inc., the only two textile manufacturers that supply barrier composites, their barrier materials contain polymer films that fall under the very broad definition of a PFAS substance because they have at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom, which is in the structure of a large stable polymer. With respect to WL Gore's Crosstech Black and Crosstech, but not RT7100, fluorinated polymer DWR treatments are applied to the inside of the barrier composites, in order to provide to the barriers the water and oil repellency and breathability features which are critical to firefighter health and safety. WL Gore and Associates and Stedfast Inc. have specified that they do not add "long chain" perfluorocarboxylic acids (also called C8) such as Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to the materials supplied to Starfield-Lion.  The moisture barrier layers do not come into direct contact with the skin of the firefighter.

Based on the information Starfield-Lion has reviewed from WL Gore and Stedfast, US CDC ATSDR, NFPA performance tests, and from other sources, the moisture barrier composites Starfield-Lion and other manufacturers incorporate into personal protective equipment enhance the safety and protection of firefighters. The barriers made by Stedfast and WL Gore are the only barrier materials that currently meet the safety requirements of the NFPA 1971 Standard on Structural Firefighting PPE. There are currently no alternative barrier materials available that meet NFPA 1971 standards for firefighter PPE, therefore, at this time WL Gore and Stedfast barriers are essential materials. They function to reduce the risk to firefighters from extremely dangerous exposures to toxic chemicals such as gasoline, diesel fuel, chlorine, hydraulic fluid, anti-freeze, and battery acid, as well as other chemicals that are typically present in emergency operations. These polymer materials also reduce the risk to firefighters from scald burns and heat stress caused by water soaking into protective equipment during high heat fire suppression operations, while providing a level of breathability and comfort meeting the safety requirements of the NFPA 1971 standard.

All outer shell and thermal liner fabrics with DWR treatments used in Starfield-Lion's turnout gear have been certified to the OEKO-TEX 100 safety standard for PPE fabrics by suppliers Ten Cate, Safety Components, Stedfast, and WL Gore.  Milliken has indicated such certification is pending and they use non-fluorinated DWR finishes. OEKO-TEX 100 certification requires testing for dozens of potentially contaminating residual chemicals, and is based on the European standards for textile safety. 

Starfield-Lion is committed to providing safe and effective firefighting personal protective equipment, in full compliance with all safety and environmental regulations, including the latest edition of NFPA 1971. Starfield-Lion turnout gear products and TotalCare cleaning services help reduce firefighter exposure to carcinogens. StarfieldLion constantly monitors the latest science and research, and works to find and bring to market new technology when that technology is proven effective. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.