Pink dye is essential in helping firefighters and pilots accurately create and identify lines of fire retardant. Without the dye, pilots would not be able to see where the retardant lines are dropped. The pink dye, known as Phos-Chek, can fade over time in sunlight and be washed off with water, so it does not permanently stain the landscape. Neptune Aviation, a Montana-based air tanker company, is currently delivering fire retardant to areas impacted by fires in Southern California. The company contracts with the U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Air tankers at Neptune Aviation use designated air tanker bases to have retardant mixed and pumped into their planes. They have conducted at least 93 missions and delivered over 280,000 gallons of retardant to combat fires.
The primary environmental concern with fire retardant is the presence of heavy metals, which can come from naturally occurring impurities. However, a study suggested that the current version of Phos-Chek being used in California is different from previous versions with higher levels of heavy metals. Despite the risks associated with heavy metals, experts like Yifang Zhu from UCLA believe that the benefits of using fire retardants outweigh the potential risks. She stated that the immediate health risks posed by wildfire smoke, such as respiratory and cardiovascular issues, are more severe than concerns linked to fire retardants. Overall, fire retardants are considered necessary for firefighting efforts despite their environmental impact.
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