Liquid CO2 Cleaning delivers the most effective clean.

Learn More


How Toxic Substance Removal Works


Firefighting gear is waterproof. When it comes to cleaning that’s the problem. Where conventional water cleaning techniques stop at the surface of a waterproof layer, liquid CO2’s smaller molecules can penetrate between the fibers of waterproof layers to remove toxic organics, metals and NFPA specified substances. And, our low RPM basket rotation provides a gentle clean, prolonging the lifespan of PPE.
Toxic chemical icon.
Arsenic


Cancers of the skin, lung, and liver.
Toxic chemical icon.
Asbestos


Cancers of the lung, larynx, and mesothelioma.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzene


Leukemia.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzo[a]pyrene


Cancers of the lung, bladder, and skin.
Toxic chemical icon.
1,3 Butadiene


Blood cancers.
Toxic chemical icon.
Cadmium


Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Formaldehyde


Nasopharyngeal cancer.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radioactivity
(gamma activity)

All cancer sites combined.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radionuclides
(alpha & beta emitting)

All cancer sites combined.
Toxic chemical icon.
Silica
(crystalline)

Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Sulfuric acid


Laryngeal cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
TCDD
(2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin)

Lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, sarcoma; all cancer sites combined.


ETD in the Lab


Our liquid CO2 cleaning process has been tested to remove over 50 different toxins that traditional cleaning methods have difficulty decontaminating. From SVOC (semi volatile organic compounds) to PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances), we bring turnout gear back to life so that your firefighters can be confident they are wearing gear that’s as safe as possible.

To evaluate the effectiveness of water-based cleaning methods versus the CO2 cleaning process on firefighter turnout gear, a detailed study was conducted in Finland by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. This study evaluated the source of contamination from numerous firefighter events. Key results from this study were:

  • PAHs were found throughout the turnout gear in concentrations that exceeded safety standards;
  • Substantial VOC and SVOC concentrations were found in the moisture barrier layers of the gear;
  • Water washing did a poor job of removing PAHs and was responsible for transferring more contamination on the gear to less contaminated areas.
Here are the cleaning efficiency results of the study.

Toxic chemical icon.
Arsenic


Cancers of the skin, lung, and liver.
Toxic chemical icon.
Asbestos


Cancers of the lung, larynx, and mesothelioma.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzene


Leukemia.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzo[a]pyrene


Cancers of the lung, bladder, and skin.
Toxic chemical icon.
1,3 Butadiene


Blood cancers.
Toxic chemical icon.
Cadmium


Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Formaldehyde


Nasopharyngeal cancer.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radioactivity
(gamma activity)

All cancer sites combined.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radionuclides
(alpha & beta emitting)

All cancer sites combined.
Toxic chemical icon.
Silica
(crystalline)

Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Sulfuric acid


Laryngeal cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
TCDD
(2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin)

Lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, sarcoma; all cancer sites combined.

Turnout Gear Cleaning / Decon Technology Comparison


Image
NFPA SVOC Cleaning Efficiency
SVOC Water Wash CO2+
Phenol 100% 100%
2-Nitrophenol 100% 100%
2,4,6 Trichlorophenol 100% 100%
Acenaphthene (PAH) 78% 100%
Fluorene (PAH) 63% 100%
Diethyl phthalate 90% 100%
Phenanthrene (PAH) 40% 100%
Anthracene (PAH) 43% 100%
Pyrene (PAH) 27% 100%
Di-n-octyl phthalate 9% 100%
Average SVOC 66% 100%

Toxic chemical icon.
Arsenic


Cancers of the skin, lung, and liver.
Toxic chemical icon.
Asbestos


Cancers of the lung, larynx, and mesothelioma.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzene


Leukemia.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzo[a]pyrene


Cancers of the lung, bladder, and skin.
Toxic chemical icon.
1,3 Butadiene


Blood cancers.
Toxic chemical icon.
Cadmium


Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Formaldehyde


Nasopharyngeal cancer.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radioactivity
(gamma activity)

All cancer sites combined.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radionuclides
(alpha & beta emitting)

All cancer sites combined.
Toxic chemical icon.
Silica
(crystalline)

Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Sulfuric acid


Laryngeal cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
TCDD
(2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin)

Lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, sarcoma; all cancer sites combined.
Toxic chemical icon.
Arsenic


Cancers of the skin, lung, and liver.
Toxic chemical icon.
Asbestos


Cancers of the lung, larynx, and mesothelioma.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzene


Leukemia.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzo[a]pyrene


Cancers of the lung, bladder, and skin.
Toxic chemical icon.
1,3 Butadiene


Blood cancers.
Toxic chemical icon.
Cadmium


Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Formaldehyde


Nasopharyngeal cancer.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radioactivity
(gamma activity)

All cancer sites combined.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radionuclides
(alpha & beta emitting)

All cancer sites combined.
Toxic chemical icon.
Silica
(crystalline)

Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Sulfuric acid


Laryngeal cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
TCDD
(2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin)

Lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, sarcoma; all cancer sites combined.

Download the Studies
Toxic chemical icon.
Arsenic


Cancers of the skin, lung, and liver.
Toxic chemical icon.
Asbestos


Cancers of the lung, larynx, and mesothelioma.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzene


Leukemia.
Toxic chemical icon.
Benzo[a]pyrene


Cancers of the lung, bladder, and skin.
Toxic chemical icon.
1,3 Butadiene


Blood cancers.
Toxic chemical icon.
Cadmium


Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Formaldehyde


Nasopharyngeal cancer.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radioactivity
(gamma activity)

All cancer sites combined.
Radioactive chemical symbol.

Radionuclides
(alpha & beta emitting)

All cancer sites combined.
Toxic chemical icon.
Silica
(crystalline)

Lung cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
Sulfuric acid


Laryngeal cancer.
Toxic chemical icon.
TCDD
(2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin)

Lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, sarcoma; all cancer sites combined.


The 5-Step liquid co2 cleaning process is Quick and Easy


From receiving the PPE to shipping it back to departments, our process cleans, inspects and repairs PPE to a higher standard than NFPA 1851-2020. You will get your gear back clean and ready to perform.

Request Service
Graphic showing Emergency Technical Decon's 5-step cleaning process.