AOCOPM 2024 Midyear Educational Conference-346719

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The transcript details a presentation by a retired Navy captain discussing a PFAS testing program for firefighters at the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, now renamed the Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command. PFAS chemicals, often found in firefighting foams, are linked to health risks, necessitating testing to assess exposure levels among Department of Defense (DOD) firefighters. The presentation reveals that testing began as dictated by the National Defense Authorization Act 2020, and examines the first-year results compared to national benchmarks. Challenges include different testing methodologies, lack of demographic data on firefighters, and missing data due to decentralized data collection systems. The discussion highlights the persistence of PFAS in the environment and potential non-occupational exposure sources such as everyday items. Future plans aim to implement a questionnaire for better demographic data collection, expand chemical testing profiles, explore PFAS exposure trends, and establish baseline levels for new recruits. Limitations include the lack of occupational exposure guidelines and dose-response relationships. The presenter emphasizes the need for thorough risk assessment and possible influence from community awareness on advancing PFAS research and regulation.

Keywords

PFAS

firefighters

Navy

Marine Corps

health risks

testing program

National Defense Authorization Act 2020

exposure assessment

risk assessment