Reproductive health & the fire service; dangers of the job.
The data on firefighter cancers are sobering. Perhaps we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg – with many preventable cancers to realize.
Skin cancer is a common cancer in the general population and therefore requires a greater educational push to market the message and decrease skin cancer rates.
Firefighters face a greater risk of exposure to toxins now than ever before.
Using a SCBA should be standard when any amount of smoke or products of combustion are present at any fire. If you smell smoke, you are being exposed.
Research: Consequences of Mass Violence
There are many pieces of the puzzle that contribute to an elevated cancer risk in the fire service.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of over 100 organic compounds that contain two or more fused aromatic rings.
Collectively, we must apply the same smart, aggressive approach that we already use with firefighting and extend that mind-set to reducing our risk.
The fact is that thyroid cancer is currently one of the most common cancers for FDNY firefighters that were not exposed to 9/11 toxins.