Officials warn wildland firefighters about unproven supplement for smoke exposure
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 biggest blazes. The supplement, glutathione, is given through an IV or an inhaler-like machine called a nebulizer, and has not been proven to be safe or effective, according to experts. It could also expose firefighters to illness if contamination occurs during production.
At least two pharmacies recalled the supplement in August due to bacterial contamination found during testing at their labs, with one reporting that it had received reports of people suffering from fever, chills, severe headache and other symptoms.
The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), a labor union representing some 360,000 first responders, issued a safety advisory last week stating that because glutathione is not an FDA-approved drug, consumers should be cautious about product safety and claims that glutathione can treat or prevent diseases.
Use during Spokane wildfires
Glutathione was offered to firefighters during recent blazes that destroyed hundreds of buildings in and around Spokane, Washington. During morning briefings, medical unit leaders on scene from California urged crews to check out a tent where a nonprofit run by licensed naturopathic doctors offered the supplement.
The group of naturopaths, called The Integrative Health Action Network, had previously provided the supplement to firefighters during the January 2025 wildfires that tore through Los Angeles County. The group's work with firefighters began following a 2017 blaze that destroyed thousands of homes in California's wine country.
Despite the lack of evidence, some firefighters have said the supplement helped them feel better after breathing toxic smoke and have urged California pharmacy officials not to restrict access. However, the IAFF has received reports of some firefighters feeling worse or becoming sick after treatment.
Voices from both sides
Sean DeCrane, IAFF assistant to the general president for health and safety, said medical treatments being marketed to firefighters should be evaluated and tested to make sure there are no unintended consequences. He noted that firefighters work in extreme conditions that make it impractical to use a respirator with an oxygen tank, exposing them to a "slew of chemicals" with short- and long-term health impacts.
Jen Riegle, a naturopathic doctor and co-founder of The Integrative Health Action Network, said the 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.
Pasadena Fire Captain Matt Caffey, a paramedic for 28 years, said smoke exposure from burning neighborhoods brings on coughing, vomiting and brain fog, and that glutathione helps. He urged Integrative Health Action Network providers to come to Spokane. The California Board of Pharmacy in 2025 reversed course on regulations that would have made the supplement more difficult to acquire after pushback from some firefighters.
Expert skepticism and scientific context
Dr. Cora Sack, a pulmonary specialist at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said anecdotal claims of relief from glutathione are "interesting and provocative" but that "we lack clinical evidence of its efficacy." Glutathione is an antioxidant made primarily in the liver that neutralizes unstable molecules that attack the body and cause cellular damage. Sack acknowledged that wildfire smoke creates oxidative stress in the body, and there is "interesting biological plausibility" that antioxidants could impact that.
She cautioned that taking glutathione through a nebulizer may constrict the airways of people who have asthma or chronic lung conditions. There have been cases of people getting poisoned due to contamination at sterile compounding pharmacies, and injecting a contaminated product could cause significant medical events including fevers, hypotension, inflammatory reactions, anaphylactic shock and death, according to the recent pharmacy recalls.
Luke Montrose, a professor at Colorado State University, said glutathione has anti-inflammatory properties but that because it hasn't been studied, he is hesitant.
Broader health impacts
More studies are showing wide-ranging negative health impacts of inhaling wildfire smoke, which is especially toxic when blazes tear through urban areas and burn up household appliances, batteries and chemicals. Tens of thousands of people die annually in the U.S. from long-term impacts of wildfire smoke.
The warnings come as firefighters continue to face dangerous conditions and seek ways to mitigate the health effects of smoke exposure. While some have found relief in glutathione, officials and experts emphasize the need for rigorous evaluation before recommending it as a treatment.