Establish a comprehensive firefighter cancer strategy that invests in research, provides access to cancer screening for firefighters, and reduces and eliminates PFAS exposure.
Issue
Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of developing cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general public.
Prior the 2022 Summit, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) rated a firefighter’s occupational exposure at its highest level, a “Class 1 threat carcinogenic to humans1.” The IARC Working Group cited other findings, including “sufficient evidence” to connect the occupational exposures associated with firefighting with mesothelioma and bladder cancer. They also found “limited evidence” to link firefighting and colon, prostate, and testicular cancer.
IARC’s designation is a game-changing opportunity to further consolidate hard-won gains in research and knowledge into profound impacts.
1 International Agency for Research on Cancer. Volume 132: Occupational exposure as a firefighter. Lyon, France; June 7–14, 2022.
- The Mechanics of Exposures
- Hierarchy of Contamination Control in the Fire Service: Review of Exposure Control Options to Reduce Cancer Risk (Gavin P. Horn, Kenneth W. Fent, Steve Kerber & Denise L. Smith; 2022)
- FSRI/NIOSH: Firefighters’ Urinary Concentrations of VOC Metabolites After Controlled-Residential and Training Fire Responses (2022)
- Perceptions of Work-Related Health and Cancer Risks Among Women Firefighters: A Qualitative Study
- IAFF/Metro Chiefs: Firefighters told to wear protective gear less to limit exposure to ‘forever chemicals’ linked to cancer
- Safety+Health Magazine: Firefighting officially a cancer-causing profession, World Health Organization says
- PBS Newshour: How Firefighters’ Life-saving Work Puts Them at a Higher Risk of Cancer
- NC Health News: Firefighters and Supporters are Pushing Hard for PFAS-free Turnout Gear
- CDC/NIOSH: Firefighter Cancer Registry
- NIOSH Resources/Publications
- Environmental Protection Agency: PFAS Explained
- IAFF/FCSN Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month
- NVFC Serve Strong
- VCOS/NVFC Lavender Ribbon Report: Best Practices for Preventing Firefighter Cancer
- FRCE: Occupational Cancer Resource Hub
