Overview

• The ACS Cancer Prevention Study-II followed over 470,000 firefighters from 1982 to 2018 to compare their cancer death rates with male workers in other fields.
• Firefighters experienced a 72% higher risk of fatal skin cancer and a 39% increase in kidney cancer mortality compared to non-firefighters.
• Additional elevated risks included 8% for lung cancer, 14% for prostate cancer and 15% for colorectal cancer fatalities.
• The authors highlight chronic inhalation of toxic smoke and repeated contact with carcinogenic materials in gear as key drivers of the disparities.
• Experts are calling for stricter protective equipment standards and broader access to routine cancer screenings for fire service personnel.