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What is the pink powder being used to fight fires in California? It's everywherewww.bbc.com/news/articles/c93lqng957jo
166 sats \ 3 comments \ @NovaRift 13 Jan science
Thousands of gallons of fire retardant have been dropped over southern California this past week
The flame retardant is a product called Phos-Chek, which is sold by a company called Perimeter.
It has been used to fight blazes in the US since 1963, and is the main long-term fire retardant used by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It is also the most-used fire retardant in the world, according to a 2022 report in the Associated Press.
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10 sats \ 2 replies \ @Satosora 13 Jan
Is it a carcinogen?
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Cje95 14 Jan
It’s not a PFAS which is important…
They haven’t moved to PFAS solutions yet. PFAS would likely be the best solution but it would be highly effective for the same reason it won’t be used. It won’t break down.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @NovaRift OP 13 Jan
No. At least the manufacturer says so, and they have also passed the necessary guidelines under Californian law. However, traces of heavy metals, such as cadmium and chromium, have been found, which are very dangerous for the environment and aquatic life.
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