Spotlightingnews

Firefighters Vulnerable To Cancer

According to a new and interesting study developed by researchers at the University of Cincinnati, firefighters have high risk of developing certain types of cancer including testicular, skin or brain cancer.

Dr Grace LeMasters and colleagues at the University of Cincinnati analyzed data provided by 32 previous studies. The team's research included information coming from nearly 110,000 professional firefighters.

The researchers suggested that exposure to certain chemicals like styrene, benzene, exhaust or formaldehyde are responsible for the increasing risk of cancerous tumors among firefighters.

"We believe there's a direct correlation between the chemical exposures firefighters experience on the job and their increased risk for cancer," said Dr Grace LeMasters.

The findings were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

The researchers are hoping that the current study will dermine authorities to supply firefighters with additional protective measure.

"There's a critical and immediate need for additional protective equipment to help fire fighters avoid inhalation and skin exposures to known and suspected occupational carcinogens. In addition, fire fighters should meticulously wash their entire body to remove soot and other residues from fires to avoid skin exposure," suggested Dr James Lockey, co-author of the study.

"Fire fighters work in an inherently dangerous occupation on a daily basis. As public servants, they need and deserve additional protective measures that will ensure they aren't at an increased cancer risk," concluded Dr Grace LeMasters.