A firefighter’s wife opened a storage bin in the basement and saw something she couldn’t unsee. She opened a mystery and is now sharing her results with the world. In this new “Truth of the Matter” podcast episode with @natashazouves, Diane Cotter explains how her husband’s diagnosis launched an investigation into the profession’s alarming rates of cancer — and into the toxic chemicals hiding in the gear that is supposed to protect firefighters. Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/ZQ1UvkRP9SA
A firefighter was just a few years from retirement when he received a devastating cancer diagnosis. His wife went looking for answers in the last place she expected: His protective gear. In this new “Truth of the Matter” podcast episode with @natashazouves, Diane Cotter explains how her husband’s diagnosis launched an investigation into why firefighters are dying at such alarming rates from cancer — and the toxic chemicals hiding in the gear meant to protect them. Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/ZQ1UvkRP9SA
In the Emmy-nominated and Murrow-winning documentary “Growing Broke,” investigative journalist Natasha Zouves gets her blood tested for forever chemicals on camera. Forever chemicals are so omnipresent — in our nonstick pans, couches, pizza boxes, and now in rainwater everywhere on earth — and they are linked with serious health issues and cancer. PFAS are now in the blood of 97% of Americans. In this new “Truth of the Matter” podcast episode, Diane Cotter explains how her firefighter husband’s cancer diagnosis was the beginning of the biggest mystery of her life: discovering the very gear meant to protect him was shot through with dangerous levels of toxic “forever chemicals.”
For Paul Cotter, being a firefighter wasn’t a job, it was a calling. Nearly three decades of running toward danger, including a three-alarm fire where he broke through two doors and crawled into an inferno to save a man trapped on the third floor. Then came a phone call from his doctor. Cancer. His wife, Diane Cotter, says she screamed when she found out. And she says, as Paul began to slip further and further away, one question haunted her: how does this happen to someone so healthy? Diane knew the risks everyone associates with firefighting: smoke, toxins and diesel exhaust. But she had also seen the numbers: cancer is now the leading cause of line-of-duty death for firefighters. And she couldn’t shake the feeling there was more to…
Diane Cotter suspects her firefighter husband developed cancer from the “forever chemicals” in his protective turnout gear. She joins “NewsNation Prime” to discuss her crusade to have the substances removed from the equipment. #Health #ForeverChemicals #Firefighters "NewsNation Prime" is America’s source for unbiased news offering a full range of perspectives from across the U.S. Weekends starting at 7p/6C. #Prime NewsNation is your source for fact-based, unbiased news for all Americans.
AI:Diane Cotter is spearheading a movement to eliminate toxic "forever chemicals" from firefighter turnout gear after her husband developed cancer, which she believes was caused by exposure to these dangerous substances during his service. This personal crusade highlights the growing scandal regarding pervasive chemical contaminants found in everyday products and industrial equipment that pose severe health risks to frontline responders.Open
