SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A new state law taking effect next week will ban companies from manufacturing, selling and distributing firefighter protective gear containing forever chemicals. Experts believe this could be critical for the long-term health of first responders.

Companies selling protective equipment containing PFAS are required to provide written notice of why the chemicals are added to their gear by Jan. 1. Illinois will then ban the sale of any PPE containing forever chemicals to fire departments starting Jan. 1, 2027.

This comes as nearly 75% of recent firefighter deaths have been linked to occupational cancer.

"Although the fire service has known that PFAS were contained in our protective gear since at least 2018, nothing was done about it until state laws and litigation started to affect the bottom line of these manufacturers," said Steve Shetsky from the Associated Firefighters of Illinois.

The Illinois Fire Chiefs Association opposed the legislation, but its leaders stressed that they are only concerned about the 2027 effective date for the ban.

"While PFAS-free gear is currently being tested and evaluated in select departments nationwide, these tests have been relatively limited," said IFCA Executive Director John Buckley. "Our concern is that our members will be unable to purchase firefighting gear for their firefighters as appropriate gear is not readily available currently."

Manufacturers that sell auxiliary protective gear will be banned from knowingly selling or distributing gear intentionally containing PFAS starting Jan. 1, 2030. 

The law is personal for state representative and Chicago firefighter Mike Kelly, who knows many people serving on the front lines are dying due to their gear.

"I'd like to thank Chuck Sullivan and Steve Shetsky from AFFI for working with the manufacturers of the equipment and working to get to 2030, and give them some time to work on some other equipment that we know there's no replacement for right now," Kelly said.

House Bill 2409 received unanimous support in the Illinois House and Senate earlier this year.

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