NBC News – Cancer is the Biggest Killer of America’s Firefighters

“Car accidents, medical calls, rescues and fires keep Boston firefighters busy round-the-clock. But while they are equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus and protective clothing, what’s killing them is a danger they often can’t see: cancer. Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph Finn called it an “epidemic.” “We’re seeing a lot of younger members in their 40s, early 40s, who’ve got 20 years on the job, who are developing these cancers at a very young age,” Finn told NBC News.

WALB – New Initiative Works to Keep Firefighters Safe and Cancer Free

“You may notice Albany firefighters will be dressed a little differently when they arrive to a fire. It’s part of the new Clean Cab initiative that was created to help save their lives. The men and women who rush into burning buildings to save us from fires are now dying from cancer at an alarming rate. Toxic gases seep through their gear and equipment into their skin. The Albany Fire Department launched a new initiative to try and save the lives of their first responders. “Cancer is running rapid in the fire service,” said Deputy Fire Chief Sebon Burns.

Arizona Public Media – Tuscon Fire, US Work to Reduce Firefighter Exposure to Cancer

“Burning buildings, collapsing roofs and temperatures reaching toward 1,000 degrees are some of the life-threatening conditions that firefighters encounter on the job. But one of the greatest risks to firefighters’ health is one that can’t be seen: cancer. That’s why the Tucson Fire Department partnered with the University of Arizona College of Public Health to take action against the silent killer by improving the protective gear firefighters wear. According to a 2016 study from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, firefighters die from cancer-related illnesses at a 14 percent higher rate than the general public.

National Safety Council – Bill to Create Firefighter Cancer Registry Becomes Law

“NIOSH research shows that nearly 30,000 firefighters who were involved in a study between 2010 and 2015 had higher rates of certain cancers – digestive, oral, respiratory and urinary – than the general population. In addition, firefighters had nearly twice as many cases of malignant mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer triggered by asbestos exposure. Researchers also found that the number of firefighters younger than 65 who had bladder or prostate cancer was more than expected.”

Chemicals May Enter Through Skin - Dermal Exposure To Chemicals

"The study of occupational and environmental exposure to chemicals has traditionally focused on the quantity of dust, aerosol, or vapors inhaled. This has been driven by the high historic prevalence of respiratory illness among those in mining and manufacturing industries. The large proportion of respiratory physicians working in occupational medicine reflects this. Other exposure routes are often overlooked when evaluating the impact of chemicals on health. It is important to remember that in addition to inhalation, chemicals may enter the body by ingestion, by injection, or by uptake through the unbroken skin (dermal absorption)."

"In a December 2020 study, Grandjean found that the presence of a PFAS called perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) in the blood of Danish adults infected with COVID-19 was linked with nearly double the likelihood of hospitalization, and that some of the hospitalized patients with PFBA exposure were five times more likely to progress to intensive care or death.