INCREASED CANCER RISK IN FIREFIGHTERS

Many fire departments in Ohio will be able to help keep their firefighters safer with the purchase of new safety gear made possible through a grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

The Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grant Program is the first of its kind in Ohio. Through the program, fire departments around the state are eligible to apply for grant monies to purchase such safety items as diesel exhaust systems, extractors/washing machines, hoods with barrier protection and washable gloves.

These items are critical in reducing the exposure to cancer-causing and other harmful elements firefighters frequently come in contact with when fighting fires.

As more and more firefighters are diagnosed with cancer, protection against exposure to carcinogens has been a growing concern.

According to a recent study on cancer conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firefighters showed higher rates of certain types of cancer then the rest of the United States’ general population.

Ohio recently became the 34th state to enact legislation (The Michael Louis Palumbo Jr. Act) allowing firefighters to file a workers’ compensation claim after being diagnosed with occupational-related cancer. In addition, the state is now taking steps to reduce cancer risks to firefighters by helping departments purchase the safety gear designed to reduce harmful element exposure.

Firefighter Cancer Support Network reported in their Taking Action against Cancer in the Fire Service workshop that when the body heats up, skin absorption rates increase by 400 percent for every 5- degree increase in skin temperature, which readily allows any toxic elements to enter the human body.

Firefighter’s turnout gear, (gloves, jackets,etc.) are meant more for thermal protection than protection against toxic elements and carcinogens.

The BWC has set aside $1 million for Ohio fire departments to purchase personal protective equipment.

Fire departments with a payroll of $500,000 or more can apply for up to $15,000 in grant money at a 5-to-1 match, which means for every $5 in grant money from the BWC, the department contributes $1.

There are currently 38 fire departments who are the first in the state sharing in over $406,000 of the grant money, which is available through an application process.

Euclid Fire Department plans to use the funds from the grant money to purchase 81 Innotex Gray Hoods, which are designed to reduce the risk of carcinogen contamination while still allowing air to permeate through the hood.

The cost of the hoods is $6,885, but the city of Euclid is only responsible for $1,147.

Assistant Fire Chief Will Anderson, who wrote the grant application for the department, is grateful to the BWC for being proactive and willing to provide the funding.

Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters worked in collaboration with the BWC to make this grant possible. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed higher rates of certain types of cancer in firefighters than in the general U.S. population.

Based on U.S. cancer rates:

• Firefighters in the study had a greater number of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths.

• These were mostly digestive, oral, respiratory, and urinary cancers.

• There were about twice as many firefighters with malignant mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

• Exposure to asbestos while firefighting is the most likely explanation for this.

• There were more cases of certain cancers among younger firefighters.

• For example, firefighters in the study who were under 65 years of age had more bladder and prostate cancers than expected.

When comparing firefighters in our study to each other:

• The chance of lung cancer diagnosis or death increased with amount of time spent at fires.

• The chance of leukemia death increased with the number of fire runs.

— Findings from A Study of Cancer Among U.S. Firefighters, conducted from 2010-2015.

“It has been a collaborative effort that we (at OAPPF) were happy to play a part in,” said Bill Mastroianni, director of operations for the association. “These grants will help protect firefighters and keep them healthy so they can continue to help/save the citizens.”