Exploring cancer risk among firefighters

Scientists are taking a new approach to studying cancer risk among firefighters. Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are working with the Boston Fire Department to examine risk factors at stations Most research into firefighters and cancer has focused on exposure to toxic compounds when fighting fires, but fire stations are a second home for firefighters and they’re filled with diesel fire trucks and protective gear in which toxic chemicals can accumulate. The Boston Fire Department is concerned that firefighters are being diagnosed with, and dying from, cancer at higher than normal rates. Previous studies have found significantly elevated rates of some types of cancers in firefighters, particularly multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, prostate cancer, and gastrointestinal and lung cancers, so researchers are measuring air quality at various fire stations. They’re also interviewing firefighters about lifestyle habits, such as sleep, diet, and exercise. A key part of the research will be comparing older fire stations to newer ones, to assess the impact of insulation and building materials. After analyzing data from this project, researchers hope to use the results to propose long-term workplace interventions.