FLUORINE POSITIVE

The products were tested by means of a Particle-Induced Gamma-Ray Emission Analysis. This detection method is able to detect fluorine and fluorine compounds regardless of their origin. The testing was conducted in a double blind fashion with products that were collected in the field or products that were obtained directly from the manufacturers. Note: Naming conventions are not consistent and multiple occurrences indicated multiple sources.

The initial testing was conducted down to the ppm level, (parts per million).  The testing method has an error sensitivity which was computed for each sample. The product fluorine detection is listed along with its error sensitivity for each measurement.

The data is listed highest to lowest in ppm, quantitatively speaking per the documents listed in the previous fluorine hazards tab of this website a lower reading is more acceptable to the first responder. That much being said, a level of approximately 100 ppm to 18 ppm places the product in an interim category because of the resolution of the testing method (PIGE).

These are the products that had an indication of 100 ppm to approximately 18 ppm. Some of these products purported to be Fluorine Free Products. At this time it is not know how these fluorinated components ended up in the product. Or if indeed there are fluorine molecules, it represents the lower level of the test resolution. We offer some other possible explanations; "sloppy" chemical processing, that is the industrial manufacturer may be using old equipment to mix new product, or, third party contamination, that is a chemical from another process did not meet the standard of fluorine free, or, incidental contamination from process water, the possible methods of contamination are limited only by ones imagination. That much being said, the testing indicated they were present, if a manufacturer presents his product to be fluorine free and it indicates positive on this test, the EPA searching at fire scene is highly likely to detect it also, so first responders beware.

Because of the increasing body of evidence which points to the interaction of fluorinated compounds on Human Health and our Environment as well as the recent legislative actions banning the use of fluorinated compounds such as PFOA, PFAS etc. All first responders should be well advised to consider every alternative available to them.

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