Alex Forrest, Canadian trustee of the International Association of Firefighters, on the next battle in the war of firefighters everywhere against carcinogens at work
In June 2022 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that firefighting is a Class 1 carcinogen – the same danger level as asbestos and tobacco.
This decision validated more than 30 years of work by the International Association of Firefighters and its branches in North America.
Firefighters have increased risk for cancers ranging as high as two to three times the rates of the general population due to exposure to carcinogens at every fire they attend.
The technologies have yet to be invented that would block these chemicals from us through absorption, inhalation and ingestion.
Evidence suggests that our cancer risks may be underestimated.
This is only the beginning.
We know that other factors probably contribute to our cancer rates. One is the chemical group per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever” chemicals that stay in our bodies for extreme long periods and can cause cellular manipulation leading to cancer.
Evidence suggests that our cancer risks may be underestimated
These chemicals are in firefighting foams as well as our PPE. The IAFF is putting the political weight of its 350,000 members into stopping the use of PFAS in PPE and to find a solution to get this cancer-causing agent out of our gear. The IAFF will be working with the fire union leaderships from around the world and the UK will be pivotal to this battle in Europe
