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Cancer – the Number One Cause of Death Among Firefighters

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Cancer – the Number One Cause of Death Among Firefighters

Being a firefighter means putting your own personal safety aside in order to help save others. It means that you are willing to take risks, even if it means putting your life at danger, whenever it is needed from you. It also means exposing yourself to invisible threats in the form of toxic chemicals that can cause job-related long-term diseases such as heart diseases, lung damage and cancer. 

Additional risk of cancer among firefighters. Source: Firefighter Cancer Support Network

Cancer is now the number one cause of death among firefighters. According to data from the nonprofit Firefighter Cancer Support Network (active in the USA and Canada) cancer caused 66% of the career firefighter line-of-duty deaths from 2002 to 2019. Firefighters also have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population. And according to Professor Anna Stec at the University of Central Lancashire, the rate of deaths from cancer among firefighters who are younger than 75 years old is up to three times higher than the general population.

When it comes to cancer among firefighters there have been multiple studies made on the subject. Three of these studies are considered to be key studies in the field. These three key firefighter cancer studies are LeMasters Meta-Analysis, the NIOSH Study and the Nordic Study. Each of these show that firefighters run a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with, and dying from, various forms of cancer than the general population.

 

Firefighters putting out a fire from a fire engine crane truck exposing them selves to PAH and other toxic chemicals.

Exposure to toxic chemicals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)

The reason for the higher risk of developing cancer is mainly linked to the exposure to toxic chemicals firefighters are facing in their line of work. When something is burning, the chemical reaction taking place will produce waste products including numerous forms of toxic chemicals e.g. carcinogenic PAH particles. Due to the synthetic materials that are used in today’s furniture and building material, fires are burning faster and hotter, and they are releasing more toxic gases than they used to back in the days when more natural materials where being used.

When firefighters are fighting a fire, inside or outside of a building, they are exposed to these dangerous toxic gases. By wearing a breathing apparatus, they can protect themselves, minimizing the inhalation of the chemicals. However, the particles will also stick to their PPE equipment including turnout gear, SCBA, face masks, boots and gloves. That means that everything they touch will become polluted and contaminated and there is a large risk that their skin will be exposed during removal of the PPE.

They also found PAH contamination throughout all measured areas inside the stations including the office areas.

In a recent study, Professor Anna Stec, Professor in Fire Chemistry and Toxicity in the School of Physical Sciences and Computing at the University of Central Lancashire in England, examined the correlation between exposure to PAHs and the elevated cancer incidence in firefighters. Anna and her fellow researchers found that, not only did the contamination of carcinogenic PAH particles increase significantly on both the firefighter’s skin and their PPE equipment after firefighting exercises. They also found PAH contamination throughout all measured areas inside the stations including the office areas. Using cancer slope factors (a key risk assessment parameter derived by the EPA. It is an estimate of the probability that an individual will develop cancer if exposed to a specified amount of chemical (mg/kg) every day for a lifetime.), the result also indicated a markedly elevated risk of developing cancer and the main exposure appeared to be via skin absorption (which was also the case in this study).

Researchers found PAH contamination throughout all measured areas inside the stations.

Risk assessment is key

In order for firefighters to stay healthy decontamination is of outmost importance. Minimizing exposure to carcinogens could potentially help save lives in the long run. Most firefighters are well aware of the risks, but knowledge is key. It is important that everyone who work at a fire station know about the facts and that everyone know what they can and should do in order to help minimize contamination and re-contamination.

A good way to start is to do a risk assessment with the purpose of identifying the significant hazards and risks and deciding what measures to take to reduce those risks.

The five steps of risk assessment are:

  1. Identify hazards, i.e. anything that may cause harm.
  2. Decide who may be harmed, and how.
  3. Assess the risks and take action.
  4. Make a record of the findings.
  5. Review the risk assessment.

Tips on how to minimize exposure:

  • Always use personal protective equipment and a breathing apparatus when entering a fire or the aftermath of a fire.
  • Always wear gloves during an operation or exercise.
  • Never leave any skin exposed during an operation or exercise.
  • Have a colleague hose you down with water before taking of your protective gear.
  • Have a colleague help you take your gloves of.
  • If possible, use disposable gloves before handling any of you other PPE equipment in order to prevent dermal exposure on your hands.
  • Wash turnout gear after each operation or exercise. Put all fabrics in a plastic bag before sending it to wash. This helps minimizing contamination of the fire engine and the station upon arrival.
  • Decontaminate your SCBA, including the mask, helmet, boots and gloves.
  • To avoid re-contamination, make sure not to handle and store clean and contaminated gear in the same space within the station.
  • Always shower after each operation or exercise. Use cold water in the beginning to make sure your skin pores are closed. This helps minimize dermal exposure.
  • Make sure the fire engine is properly cleaned after each operation or exercise.
  • Try to minimize areas and surfaces within the station where contaminated gear is being handled to minimize the spreading of the toxic chemicals throughout the premises.

Cancer incidence amongst UK firefighters Anna A. Stec, Taylor A. M. Wolffe, Andrew Robinson, Kathryn Dickens, et al.

Carried out by Professor Anna Stec, Professor in Fire Chemistry and Toxicity in the School of Physical Sciences and Computing at the University of Central Lancashire in England, with the help of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in the UK. The study surveyed over 10 000 firefighters around the UK – both serving and retired – representing 24% of the UK’s total firefighter workforce.

 

 

Read the full study here

  • Depending on the type of cancer the rate of getting a cancer diagnose is 1.6-3.8 times higher than the general UK population of the same age.
  • Prostate cancer: 3.8 (times higher)
  • Leukemia: 3.2 (times higher)
  • Oesophagal cancer: 2.42 (times higher)
  • 36% of the firefighters with cancer were diagnosed with skin cancer – making it the most prevalent cancer that was reported.
  • Instances of cancer were 323% higher among firefighters aged between 35 and 39 compared to the general population.
  • UK firefighters who served for at least 15 years were 1.7 times more likely to develop cancer compared to those who served less time.

Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Elevated Cancer Incidence in FirefightersAnna A. Stec, Kathryn E. Dickens, Marielle Salden, et al.

Carried out by Professor Anna Stec, Professor in Fire Chemistry and Toxicity in the School of Physical Sciences and Computing at the University of Central Lancashire in England, the study examined the correlation between exposure to PAHs and the elevated cancer incidence in firefighters.

 

Read the full study here

Studies were carried out in two UK Fire and Rescue Service Stations (identified as Station 1 and Station 2), on the southern coast of England. Wipe samples were collected from the skin, the personal protective equipment (PPE) of firefighters, and selected work surfaces.

Anna and her fellow researchers found that, not only did the contamination of carcinogenic PAH particles increase significantly on both the firefighter’s skin and their PPE equipment after firefighting exercises. They also found PAH contamination throughout all measured areas inside the stations including the office areas. Using cancer slope factors (a key risk assessment parameter derived by the

Elevated Exposures to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Other Organic Mutagens in Ottawa Firefighters Participating in Emergency, On-Shift Fire Suppression – Jennifer L. A. Keir, Umme S. Akhtar, David M. J. Matschke, et al.

Carried out by Jennifer Keir, (as her Master’s thesis) at the University of Ottawa and in collaboration with Ottawa Fire Services, is a study on Ottawa firefighters’ toxic exposures during active fire suppression.

Read the full study here

 

The research studied samples from 27 firefighters and 17 office workers over 16 months. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that were studied, among other toxins, have been shown to be mutagenic, including mutations linked to cancer.

The result shows, among other things, that Ottawa firefighters had from three to more than five times the amount of toxic chemicals in their urine after a fire compared to before a fire. And, crucially, the study suggests the chemicals entered their bodies mainly through skin contact. 

Cancer incidence among firefighters: 45 years of follow-up in five Nordic countries – Eero Pukkala, Jan Ivar Martinsen, Elisabete Weiderpass, et al.

Carried out by a group of researchers from the five Nordic countries and published in 2014. In this cohort study including 16 422 firefighters from the five Nordic countries of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Island, the researchers found an increased risk for all cancer types combined in firefighters similar to the NOISH Study. On top of that they also found a statistically significant increased risk for developing the following five cancer types.

Read the full study here

  • Prostate cancer (13% increase)
    The highest risk was found among firefighters 30 – 49 years old: (159% increased risk)
  • Malignant melanoma (25% increase)
  • Non-melanoma skin cancer (33% increase)
  • Mesothelioma in firefighters over 70 years of age (159% increase)
  • Lung adenocarcinoma (29% increased risk)

Mortality and cancer incidence in a pooled cohort of US firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia (1950–2009) - Robert D DanielsTravis L KubaleJames H Yiinet al.

Carried out by researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the USA and first published in 2013. In this pooled cohort study the researchers studied the link between firefighters and cancer. The study included 29 993 firefighters from three different fire departments; Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco. The study showed that firefighters have a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer and a statistically significantly higher risk of dying from seven different types of cancer compared to the general population.

Read the full study here

  • Mesothelioma (100% increase)
  • Rectum (45% increase)
  • Buccal/pharynx (40% increase)
  • Esophagus (39% increase)
  • Large intestine (31% increase)
  • Kidney (29% increase)
  • Lung (10% increase)

Cancer risk among firefighters: a review and meta-analysis of 32 studies – Grace K LeMasters, Ash M Genaidy, Paul Succop, James Deddens, et al.

Carried out by environmental health researchers and led by Grace K LeMasters at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and published in 2006. LeMasters and her colleagues combined data from 32 smaller studies of firefighters for 20 different cancer types. The study identified 10 different cancer types where firefighters had an increased risk of being diagnosed.

Read the full study here

  • Testicular cancer (102% greater risk)
  • Multiple myeloma (53% greater risk)
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (51% greater risk)
  • Skin cancer (39% greater risk)
  • Prostate cancer (28% greater risk)
  • Malignant melanoma (32% greater risk)
  • Brain cancer (32% greater risk)
  • Rectal cancer (29% greater risk
  • Stomach cancer (22% greater risk)
  • Colon cancer (21% greater risk)
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How to clean your PPE equipment

In order to minimize the risk for firefighters of being diagnosed with cancer we need to minimize their exposure to cancer causing toxic chemicals such as PAH particles. One way of doing that is trough thorough cleaning and decontamination of the PPE equipment. There are a few things to always bare in mind while doing so.

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