Mesothelioma Among Firefighters
Asbestos Exposure and the Risks of Lung Cancer
Firefighters are community heroes—the ones who rush into harm’s way to save others. And the cost of the job can be high. It has been widely recognized that firefighters have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. The risk of fire itself, smoke inhalation, inhalation of poisonous gases like carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide as well as the risk of falling debris during a fire all pose immediate and sometimes fatal risks for firefighters. Because the job is so strenuous and stressful, firefighters also experience a high rate of hypertension and cardiac arrests. According to a USFA (U.S. Fire Administration) report, 118 firefighters died on duty in 2008. In 2001, that number was 450.
But in addition to the immediate risks that face firefighters, there are hidden dangers—like asbestos exposure — that can affect them over time. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with great insulating and fire resistant properties that was used in construction materials for much of the last century. The destruction and air disturbance in a fire can release asbestos fibers into the air. When firefighters have to break through walls or other building materials, more asbestos can be released into the air. Asbestos exposure can cause a type of pulmonary scarring called asbestosis, and it can cause some types of cancer, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Firefighters who worked at Ground Zero on and after 9/11, for example, were exposed to asbestos and other toxins that continue to cause respiratory problems for many, and the full consequences of those 9/11 asbestos exposures are not yet known.
While 9/11 is an extreme example, firefighters nevertheless face the risk of asbestos exposure in a typical day’s work. For example, a December 2007 fire in downtown New Haven, Connecticut destroyed several buildings, and it took firefighters several hours to subdue the blaze. Inside a burning building, firefighters generally wear respirators, but those fighting the flames from outside often operate without masks. Air quality tests taken the morning after the fire showed that asbestos levels around the site remained extremely high. This type of exposure is commonplace; the New Haven fire is unusual simply because the exposure was documented.
Sometimes even training exercises pose an asbestos risk for firefighters. Fire departments are sometimes given old buildings to burn in training exercises. Buildings that are condemned or scheduled to be demolished may be used to give firefighters practice chopping though walls, ceilings or floors. This training is important, but the practices used can damage asbestos-containing materials and release fibers into the air.
These buildings are supposed to be inspected for asbestos and other toxins, and toxic materials have to be carefully removed before training begins. But in some cases, these rules aren’t followed, resulting in criminal charges or fines and additional unnecessary exposure to firefighters.
While lung cancer among firefighters may in many cases be caused by occupational exposure, the U.S. Fire Administration does not identify cancer or other latent diseases—diseases that develop gradually and occur over a long period of time—among its fatality numbers because of the difficulty determining what toxic exposures a firefighter received. Firefighters don’t work in a single location, and the site of their exposure is being destroyed before their eyes. The time between exposure and the development of disease further complicates attempts to identify the cause of a firefighter’s cancer.
Recognizing the need to help firefighters who develop cancers, many states have made some forms of cancer compensable under workers’ compensation laws. In states that have passed such a law, when a firefighter develops certain cancers — which may include mesothelioma — the cancer is assumed to be caused by occupational hazards like asbestos. The firefighter who develops cancer then has access to workers’ compensation funds for health care expenses and wage reimbursement.
Because of their exposure to asbestos and other toxins, it is important for firefighters to receive regular medical screening. Early detection of mesothelioma or lung cancer helps cancer patients get the best care, and mesothelioma treatment continues to improve in exciting ways.
