Health Officials Caution Against Unproven Glutathione Use for Wildland Firefighters
Health and fire officials in the United States are cautioning wildland firefighters against using the supplement glutathione, administered via IV or nebulizer, to mitigate smoke exposure. Experts state that the supplement lacks proven safety and efficacy, and there are concerns…
Fort Myers Naples, FL, August 23, 2026 —
Health and fire officials across the United States are issuing warnings to wildland firefighters regarding the use of glutathione, a supplement administered through intravenous (IV) drips or nebulizers, as a method to reduce the effects of smoke exposure.
Experts in the field have expressed concerns that the supplement has not demonstrated proven safety or efficacy for this specific purpose. There are also significant worries about the potential for contamination during the production process of glutathione.
These concerns have been amplified by recent recalls of glutathione by pharmacies. The recalls were initiated due to instances of bacterial contamination found in the product. Following these recalls, there have been reports of individuals experiencing adverse health effects after using the contaminated supplement.
The lack of established scientific evidence supporting glutathione’s effectiveness in mitigating smoke inhalation for firefighters, coupled with the documented risks of contamination and subsequent adverse reactions, has prompted these cautionary advisories from health and fire authorities.
Further details regarding the specific health effects reported or the exact nature of the contamination were not provided. The names of the specific health and fire officials or agencies issuing the cautions were also not detailed in the provided summary.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
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