Firefighters’ Occupational Cancer Risks Highlighted in Another Study

More research has added to the growing body of evidence linking firefighting and cancer risks, often due to exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam and turnout gear.

A new study suggests that firefighters face a greater likelihood of developing several types of cancer, with skin and kidney cancer presenting the highest risks associated with their occupation.

According to findings published in the International Journal for Epidemiology on July 29, being a firefighter is associated with a more than 70% greater chance of developing skin cancer, and a nearly 40% higher chance of developing kidney cancer, which is often associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in firefighting gear and fire suppressants.

PFAS are a class of more than 9,000 synthetic chemicals that have been used for decades in many products, including aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) designed to combat fuel-based fires, and protective turnout gear worn by firefighters. However, mounting research also links PFAS exposure to a range of serious health conditions, including kidney cancer, liver cancer, thyroid disease, infertility, elevated cholesterol, obesity, hormonal disruption and other medical issues.

Although public concern over PFAS has largely centered on widespread drinking water contamination, especially near military bases, airports and firefighter training facilities, many first responders face direct exposure through routine training and emergency response activities.

Due to chemical makers and equipment suppliers’ alleged failure to disclose these health risks, thousands of AFFF lawsuits are currently being pursued by former firefighters and individuals exposed to contaminate drinking water, alleging that exposure to PFAS resulted in the development of testicular cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, thyroid cancer, kidney cancer, ulcerative colitis and other long-term illnesses.

In the new study, researchers from the American Cancer Society (ACS) examined data from more than 470,000 men enrolled in the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-II Cohort.

The team, led by Lauren R. Teras, used data from the ACS study to assess associations between firefighters and cancer mortality, by comparing survival time between 3,085 firefighters included in the study and other participants, over 36 years of follow ups.

Teras found that working as a firefighter increased the risk of most cancers, but the greatest risk was associated with skin cancer, a 72% higher chance, and kidney cancer, a 39% higher chance.

The team observed an increase in mortality from prostate and colorectal cancer that correlated with more years spent as a firefighter. Additionally, an increase in firefighter lung cancer deaths became apparent after 30 years of follow-ups.

However, the researchers also found that when they accounted for other possible explanations and compared firefighters to all other types of workers, many cancer risks became weaker, but the higher risks for skin and kidney cancer remained.

Firefighter AFFF Lawsuits

The findings of this new study may play a role in some of the firefighter PFAS exposure lawsuits pending in the U.S. court system, alleging that first responders have developed various different forms of cancer after exposure to AFFF and their turnout gear.

Given common questions of fact and law presented in the claims brought throughout the federal court system, all AFFF lawsuits are currently centralized before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel in the District of South Carolina, for coordinated discovery and a series of early bellwether trials expected to begin in October 2025.

While the outcome of early bellwether trials in the MDL will not have any binding impact on other claims, the average lawsuit payouts awarded by juries for different categories of injuries may affect the outcome of PFAS exposure and AFFF settlements. If no such settlements are reached during the bellwether trials, thousands of claims may be remanded back to federal courts nationwide for individual trial dates.