A new peer-reviewed study from USC’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering finds alarmingly high levels of toxic metals in Phos-Chek fire retardant.
Bottom-line conclusion: “Long-term fire retardants contained concentrations of toxic metals (V, Cr, Mn, Cu, As, Cd, Sb, Ba, Tl, and Pb) 4−2,880 times greater than drinking water regulatory limits, and potentially greater than some aquatic toxicity thresholds when released into the environment.”
This is the first publicly available chemical analysis of Phos-Chek’s toxic metals. If the Forest Service has conducted such an analysis, it has never disclosed the results. Nor has the Forest Service ever assessed the effects of dumping these heavy metals hither and yon on our national forests.
I would not be “alarmingly” concerned as much for nano-concentrations of chemicals as I would be seeing a wildfire headed toward my investment properties and not have retardant to use!
Just saying…..
In addressing the effects of retardants containing magnesium choride, the FS said in a 2022 DSEIS:
“However, the required protective measures (avoidance areas) would be adequate to prevent water quality degradation due to use of retardant products containing MgCl, except in the event of an accidental spill or direct application.”
Available here: https://cdxapps.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-II/public/action/eis/details?eisId=356569 [see pdf p.37 of the DSEIS]
Say what one will about this assertion (and I can guess what Andy would say – indeed, probably has said), I suspect the agency would make similar arguments about any metals present in fire retardants. (I’ll confine my own observation to noting that the last clause of the quote is doing a lot of work.) And I would also guess the agency used a similar rationale for not having carried out a chemical analysis of any fire retardant (I agree that it is unlikely that this ever occurred).