Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month and Tools to Mitigate Exposure Hazards

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports there are over 325,000 firefighters in the country. Tragically, both the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) state that cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters. In fact, according to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the rest of the population.

NIOSH cautions:

Firefighting settings are complex and contain various hazardous substances. Firefighters can be exposed to hundreds of different chemicals in the form of gases, vapors, and particulates. Some of these chemical substances are known or suspected to cause cancer. Some 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 from older structures.

“Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month takes place each January and is the perfect time to educate firefighters about mitigating exposure hazards to carcinogens and other hazards,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “In addition to training, the proper use of personal protective equipment, along with air, material, and environmental monitoring and testing can help to prevent exposures to dangerous substances. In the United States and Canada, fire service members and departments can turn to the testing experts at EMSL Analytical for help. Our laboratories offer testing services for asbestos, lead, smoke residues, gases, particulate matter, chemicals, and even microbial hazards. We also provide sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments, and personal protective equipment.”

Several years ago, EMSL sponsored an educational video about firefighters and occupational exposure risks to dermal and respirable hazards that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/_5YE-L0Z7xc

To learn more about this or other environmental, health, and safety testing resources, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675, or email info@EMSL.com . For access to test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental profession

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail