As part of their job, they come into contact with 45 potentially carcinogenic substances.
They put their lives on the line to save others: firefighters take significant risks in the line of duty, and some are more visible than others. A study published in Environment International shows that firefighters are exposed to more chemicals than previously commonly believed. According to the research, they have a significant risk of inhaling polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), a carcinogen, as well as 18 other potentially dangerous chemicals, not previously identified.
A medal to detect chemicals
“We don’t have enough data to know the source of the PAHs, but we know that they come from combustion, but that’s the job of the firefighters.underlines Kim Anderson, director of the study. They also carry large amounts of gear that contains PAHs, and they use cleaning products that contain PAHs as well.” Two groups of firefighters took part in the research: the first worked in a fire station with an average of 12 interventions per month, the second generally carried out two monthly interventions. Scientists made firefighters wear medals: they were made of a silicone to detect exposure to a chemical. They wore them all the time, both at work and at home. During the interventions, the medal was under their coveralls.
An exhibition linked to the interventions
A total of 45 PAHs were identified by the researchers, including 18 not previously identified. The concentrations recorded using the medal were higher in the workplace compared to home. The more firefighters performed, the more chemicals they were exposed to. At the end of the study, the researchers provided the participants with documents to inform them about the risks associated with exposure to chemical substances.
Many cancers among French firefighters
In June, Sébastien Bouvier, CFDT project manager for the departmental fire and rescue services, pointed out the high risks of cancer in the profession, in an interview with Release. According to him, many firefighters in France suffer from cancer, especially of the prostate. “About ten years ago, an alert was launched by Finnish and Swedish colleagues who noticed significant rates of cancer in their barracks, for types of illnesses that men declare rather around sixty years of age, he explains. Among their firefighters, we found them largely around fifty. An epidemiological investigation must be launched in the coming months by the Ministry of the Interior.
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