Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month and EHS Resources to Protect First Responders from Hazardous Substances

Each year, Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month is recognized in January. Both the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) report that cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters. The agencies also state that research suggests firefighters are at a higher risk of certain types of cancers when compared to the general population.

NIOSH warns that firefighters can be exposed to hundreds of different chemicals in the form of gases, vapors and particulates, and that some of these chemical substances are known or suspected to cause cancer. A number of these hazardous substances are byproducts of combustion or burning, such as benzene and formaldehyde. Others come from the materials burning or in the fire debris, such as asbestos and lead found in many older structures.

Even for those wearing protective clothing, known as turnout gear, if it is not properly cleaned or stored after a fire or training event, chemicals on the gear or equipment can contaminate vehicles and the fire station. Reusing dirty turnout gear or respiratory protection can also result in exposures to hazardous substances through skin contact with contaminated personal protective equipment or by breathing in or ingesting particles from contaminated gear.

“NIOSH published the results of a large study of firefighters from three major U.S. cities a decade ago that found the population of firefighters in the study had a rate of mesothelioma, which is caused by exposure to asbestos, two times greater than the rate in the rest of the U.S. population,” said Zahid Iqbal, MPH, CIH and Technical Director at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “It is also important to recognize that it’s not just firefighters that may come in contact with hazardous substances, fire investigators, law enforcement, cleanup crews, demolition contractors and construction professionals sent in after a fire could all be at risk of exposure to hazardous substances.”

Dedicated to protecting first responders and workers involved with fire damaged properties are the building science, industrial hygiene and environmental professionals at CSC. They provide testing, consulting and training services to identify and mitigate these types of exposure risks.

To learn more about this or other building science, industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

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