Fire and medical officials have issued warnings about a supplement offered to Western wildland firefighters exposed to toxic chemicals while battling some of the country's largest blazes. The supplement glutathione, administered through an IV or a nebulizer, has not been proven safe or effective for this purpose.
The International Association of Firefighters, a labor union representing approximately 360,000 first responders, issued a safety advisory warning that consumers should be cautious about product safety and claims that glutathione can treat or prevent diseases. The supplement is not FDA-approved as a drug.
At least two pharmacies recalled the supplement in August due to bacterial contamination found during testing at their facilities, with one reporting receiving reports of people suffering from fever, chills, severe headache and other symptoms after use.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative voices and some frontline responders argue that restrictions should not limit access to supplements firefighters believe help them recover from toxic smoke exposure. Pasadena Fire Captain Matt Caffey, a 28-year paramedic who fought last year's Eaton fire in Southern California, said glutathione helped him cope with coughing, vomiting and brain fog caused by breathing smoke from burning neighborhoods.
"You can't remember things. You're just so behind the eight ball. You can't catch up. You're not recovering," Caffey said of his experience without the supplement.
The California Board of Pharmacy reversed course in 2025 on regulations that would have made glutathione more difficult to acquire after pushback from some firefighters who reported feeling better after using it and urged officials not to restrict access.
Luke Montrose, a professor at Colorado State University whose research focuses on wildfire smoke's impact on disease risk, acknowledged glutathione has anti-inflammatory properties but said, "Because it hasn't been studied, I'm hesitant."
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive health experts and labor advocates argue that firefighters deserve access to potentially helpful treatments while also emphasizing the need for rigorous scientific evaluation. Dr. Cora Sack, a pulmonary specialist with expertise in environmental and occupational lung disease at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said anecdotal claims are "interesting and provocative and deserve further study," but noted that "we lack clinical evidence of its efficacy."
The IAFF's Sean DeCrane, assistant to the general president for health and safety, said physicians contacted the organization with concerns about health claims despite no research proving those claims or demonstrating the supplement's safety. DeCrane stated that medical treatments being marketed to firefighters should be evaluated and tested to ensure there are no unintended consequences.
Jen Riegle, a naturopathic doctor and co-founder of The Integrative Health Action Network, which provided the supplement during recent wildfires in Spokane, Washington, said her organization recognizes the need for peer-reviewed research on whether glutathione can reduce chemical burdens in firefighters and is "actively exploring partnerships to that end."
What the Numbers Show
Tens of thousands of people die annually in the United States from long-term impacts of wildfire smoke exposure.
Firefighters work in extreme conditions that make it impractical to use respirators with air tanks, leaving them exposed to what DeCrane described as a "slew of chemicals" with both short- and long-term health impacts.
Two pharmacies issued recalls of glutathione supplements in August due to bacterial contamination. One pharmacy reported recipients experienced fever, chills, severe headache and other symptoms.
The IAFF represents approximately 360,000 first responders across the United States and Canada.
The Bottom Line
This dispute highlights a broader tension between anecdotal evidence from frontline workers experiencing real health impacts and scientific standards requiring controlled studies before endorsing treatments. Firefighters facing repeated toxic smoke exposure argue they deserve access to supplements they believe help them recover, while medical experts warn that unproven treatments carry genuine risks, particularly when produced by compounding pharmacies with documented contamination issues.
The IAFF's safety advisory and the pharmacy recalls have added urgency to calls for formal research on whether glutathione can safely and effectively mitigate wildfire smoke damage. The Integrative Health Action Network has indicated it is seeking research partnerships. What happens next may depend on whether studies confirm or refute anecdotal reports of benefit, and whether compounding pharmacies can ensure product safety.