Hidden Danger Putting Firefighters At Risk For Cancer

Summary

Firefighters face a hidden danger beyond fires—cancer. Dr. Mallika Marshall reports on new research highlighting the high cancer rates among firefighters due to exposure to toxic chemicals. Veteran Boston firefighter Kevin McNiff, battling kidney cancer, shares his story. Dr. Susan Shaw, a researcher from Maine, is studying ways to reduce this risk, focusing on decontamination of gear and wearing oxygen masks. McNiff and his union emphasize the need for improved safety measures to protect firefighters' health. The study's results may push for more benefits for families affected by cancer.

Takeaways

• 🔥 Firefighters understand the dangers of their job, but the biggest threat is an unseen one: cancer.
• 😔 Kevin McNiff, a Boston firefighter with 28 years of service, is battling kidney cancer at 53.
• 📊 A government study of over 30,000 firefighters shows significantly higher rates of respiratory, digestive, and urinary cancers among firefighters.
• 🤕 Many firefighters, like McNiff, are suffering from cancer linked to their occupation.
• 🧪 Dr. Susan Shaw's research has found high levels of flame retardant chemicals in the blood of California firefighters, which turn carcinogenic when burned.
• 🔬 Dr. Shaw is launching a larger study in New England to investigate the link between firefighting and cancer, focusing on prevention and reducing exposure.
• 🧼 Decontaminating after fires, such as hosing down uniforms and helmets, is crucial to reducing cancer risk, but it's a time-consuming process.
• 👨‍🚒 Firefighters often skip decontamination steps and avoid wearing oxygen masks during the cleanup phase due to the difficulty and weight, increasing their risk.
• 💔 McNiff, who lost his father (also a firefighter) to cancer, worries about the impact of his illness on his children.
• 📢 Dr. Shaw hopes her study will support efforts to provide more benefits to the families of firefighters who die from cancer.

Q & A

What is considered the greatest threat to firefighters, according to the research?

The greatest threat to firefighters is cancer, often caused by exposure to harmful chemicals that they cannot see.

What type of cancer is Kevin McNiff being treated for?

Kevin McNiff is being treated for kidney cancer.

What did a government study of over 30,000 firefighters find?

The study found significantly higher rates of respiratory, digestive, and urinary cancers among firefighters.

What did Dr. Susan Shaw's small study of California firefighters reveal?

Her study revealed high levels of flame retardant chemicals in firefighters' blood after a fire, which form carcinogenic byproducts when burned.

What is Dr. Shaw's larger study aiming to do?

Dr. Shaw's larger study aims to find ways to reduce firefighters' exposure to carcinogenic chemicals and prevent cancer.

How do carcinogenic chemicals linger after a fire, and what is recommended to reduce exposure?

These chemicals can linger on equipment long after the fire, so Dr. Shaw recommends decontamination by washing gear, uniforms, and equipment thoroughly.

Why is wearing oxygen masks during the overhaul stage of a fire challenging for firefighters?

Firefighters find it difficult to wear oxygen masks during overhaul because the weight of the mask hinders their ability to do their job efficiently.

What concern does Kevin McNiff have regarding his family?

Kevin McNiff worries about the impact of his illness on his children and whether he will be around to see them grow up and achieve their goals.

What does Dr. Shaw hope the results of her study will achieve?

She hopes the results will support the push for more communities to provide benefits for the families of firefighters who die from cancer.

What is the head of the firefighters' union emphasizing to firefighters?

The union head emphasizes that firefighters must think of their own health, reminding them that their job is dangerous and they need to protect themselves from long-term health risks like cancer.