Wildland Firefighters Exposed to Dozens of Cancer-Causing Chemicals: Study

Researchers identified 31 carcinogens that firefighters are regularly exposed to while fighting wildfires.

Recent findings reveal that wildland firefighters are regularly exposed to numerous pollutants, including at least 31 known carcinogens, which significantly increase their risk of developing various types of cancer and other potentially fatal health conditions.

Wildland firefighting agencies operate at the federal, state, local and contractor levels. They actively fight wildfires in woodland areas, as well as being tasked with helping prevent future forest fires, which they do through controlled burns, logging and building fire lines.

As a result of this activity, it has been known for quite some time that these firefighters are exposed to a great deal of air pollution from forest fires. However, less research has been done into the amount of carcinogens they come into contact with and what their cancer risks may be as a result.

In a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene earlier this year, researchers warned that these firefighters may be exposed to as many as 31 different known carcinogens through the smoke they inhale while fighting forest fires, which could lead to various forms of cancer for these firefighters in the future.

For the recent study, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service researchers looked at 49 scientific papers across nine different databases to determine what carcinogens wildland firefighters regularly inhale.

Researchers found evidence of exposure to at least 31 carcinogens among wildland firefighters. These carcinogens were detected through various methods, such as air sampling, urinary biomarker analysis and dermal wipe sampling. Some of the most commonly measured pollutants included:

• Particulate Matter (26 studies): Fine particles that penetrate deep into the lungs, causing respiratory and systemic inflammation
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (12 studies): Harmful organic compounds produced by incomplete combustion of organic material, some of which are highly carcinogenic
• Volatile Organic Compounds (14 studies): Chemicals that can easily become vapors or gases, many of which are toxic and linked to cancer
• Crystalline Silica (5 studies): A lung irritant that can lead to silicosis and is classified as a carcinogen
• Black Carbon (4 studies): A component of soot linked to respiratory and cardiovascular issues, as well as cancer
• Asbestos (3 studies): A known carcinogen that can lead to mesothelioma and other cancers
• Radionuclides (7 studies) and Metals (2 studies): Additional carcinogenic elements found in wildfire smoke

Given the consistent evidence of carcinogen exposure, researchers emphasized the importance of continued efforts to reduce health risks for wildland firefighters by improving personal protective equipment, enhancing ventilation systems in vehicles and base camps, promoting post-exposure decontamination practices, and conducting regular health monitoring to detect early signs of occupational diseases.

Wildfires and Lung Cancer

The link between wildfire smoke and cancer has gained significant attention as the frequency and intensity of wildfires in American forests continue to rise.

In July 2023, researchers from Emory University published a pivotal study highlighting the severe risks wildfire smoke poses to lung cancer patients, particularly those recovering from surgery.

The study revealed that lung cancer patients exposed to wildfire smoke within three months of surgery faced a 43% higher risk of death within one year. Those exposed between four to six months post-surgery experienced a 39% increased risk, while exposure between seven to twelve months post-surgery raised the risk of death by 17%.

AFFF Firefighter Cancer Lawsuits

The findings of these new studies about risks faced by individuals fighting wildland fires come as hundreds of other firefighters continue to pursue AFFF cancer lawsuits, alleging that exposure to chemicals contained in aqueous film-forming foam used to combat fuel-based fires led to the development of testicular cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, ulcerative colitis or thyroid disease.

The firefighting foam has been widely used by civilian and military firefighters for decades, during both training and response excercises, containing high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are now known to build up and accumulate in the body, leading to a number of serious health risks.

3M Company, BASF, ChemGuard, DuPont, National Foam and other companies that developed and sold the firefighting foam and turnout gear containing the chemicals now face more than 8,000 lawsuits brought throughout the federal court system, including claims brought by former firefighters exposed to the foam during their careers, as well as PFAS water contamination lawsuits brought by individuals who live in areas where the chemicals leached into local water supplies.

Given common questions of fact and law raised in the claims, the lawsuits are centralized and consolidated for pretrial proceedings before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel in the District of South Carolina, where a small group of AFFF lawsuits are being prepared for trial dates in 2025.

While the outcome of these early trial dates will not have any binding impact on other claims being pursued throughout the federal court system, they are designed to help gauge how juries may respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be repeated throughout cancer lawsuits brought by firefighters and other plaintiffs.