INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION 29
FIRE FIGHTING FOAM COALITION
T
his program has the goal to work toward the
elimination of PFOA and related higher
homologue chemicals from products such as
AFFF and from plant emissions by 2015. This is an
important set of milestones considering that since
the announcement in 2000 by 3M of environmen-
tal concerns related to the use of PFOS-based
products including foams, the AFFF industry has
worked to address these issues in a responsible
manner. Evidence of this can be seen in the
smooth transition from PFOS-based to fluoro-
telomer-based foams, the formation of the Fire
Fighting Foam Coalition (FFFC) as a focal point for
cooperation with regulatory authorities, and the
industry's recent focus on the containment and
treatment of foam discharges. When the PFOS issue
first became public there was speculation that envi-
ronmental concerns could eventually lead to a ban
on the production of fluorosurfactant-based fire
fighting foams. Now it appears that the foam indus-
try will be able to exceed its environmental goals
with C6 fluorotelomer-based fluorosurfactants that
provide the same fire protection characteristics but
with reduced environmental impacts.
Fluorosurfactants are a key ingredient
Historically, most of the environmental concern
related to fire fighting foams has focused on
aquatic toxicity and residual foaming, which can be
a concern for local waterways and sewage treat-
ment systems, and are common problems for all
foams1. Over the past 10 years the focus has shifted
By Tom Cortina
FFFC
and Stephen
Korzeniowski
DuPont
AFFF Industry in
Position to
Exceed
Environmental
Goals
With the recent announcements by major fluorochemical manufacturers of new
short-chain, C6 (six fluorinated carbons) fluorotelomer-based products, the AFFF
industry is in position to exceed the goals of the EPA global stewardship
program.

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