Firefighters face an exceptionally high risk of asbestos exposure, primarily because they enter burning or collapsing structures where legacy asbestos materials are disturbed and released into the air.
Studies show that firefighters are twice as likely to develop mesothelioma, the signature cancer of asbestos, compared to the general U.S. population.
(1) Firefighter Quick Facts :
- Face extreme risks of asbestos exposure during rescue operations
- 2.29 times more likely to develop mesothelioma due to exposure
- 70% of line-of-duty deaths are caused by cancer in general
- Proper training and procedures can prevent occupational cancer
(2) Primary Sources of Exposure
- (a) Common asbestos-containing safety gear includes:
- Suits
- Gloves
- Boots
- FireBlankets
- (b) Common Sources of Asbestos:
- Cement floors, sheets, and siding
- Roof shingles and sealant
- Vinyl tiles, flooring, and wallpaper
- Pipe, duct, and attic insulation
- Spray-on coating and fireproofing
- Plastic and millboard for electrical panels
- Insulation for homes, boilers, furnaces, and appliances
- Flooring adhesives, wall panels, and ceiling tiles
- (c) Burning Buildings: Structures built before the 1980s frequently contain asbestos in insulation, roofing, tiles, and drywall. When these burn, fibers become airborne and can be inhaled or swallowed.
- (d) Overhaul Phase: This occurs after the fire is out, when firefighters pull down ceilings or open walls to find hotspots, often disturbing pulverized asbestos.
- (e) Contaminated Gear: Asbestos fibers can latch onto personal protective equipment (PPE) and tools. If not properly decontaminated, these fibers continue to expose the firefighter and can even lead to secondhand exposure for family members at home.
- (f) Legacy PPE: Historically, fire-resistant suits, gloves, and helmets were sometimes manufactured with asbestos.
(3) Health Impact & Statistics
(a) Asbestos Diseases Firefighters Face: Inhaled asbestos fibers cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted and don’t result in immediate symptoms because the fibers cause no immediate chemical reaction in the body. But these mineral fibers can cause illnesses to develop many years later.
- (b) Some conditions related to asbestos exposure:
- (I) Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma, a result of asbestos exposure, is a rare and aggressive cancer. Cases usually affect the pleural lining, endangering the lungs, heart, and chest wall, but can also develop in the peritoneal lining, potentially spreading into abdominal organs.
- (II) Lung Cancer: Lung cancer is most commonly associated with smoking, but asbestos-related lung cancer is responsible for an estimated 6,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. Asbestos-related lung cancer kills more Americans than any other asbestos-related illness.
- (III) Asbestosis: Asbestos in the soft tissue of the lungs can cause scar tissue build-up. While non-cancerous, this scar tissue can cause symptoms similar to mesothelioma, particularly difficulty breathing and chest pain. Asbestosis is progressive and there is no cure for the condition.
- (IV) Pleural Plaques and Thickening: Once inside the body, asbestos fibers can migrate into the pleura, which is the tissue lining around the lungs. Irritation from lodged asbestos fibers may lead to the development of hard plaques or scarring in the pleural lining, which can make breathing painful.
- (c) Leading Cause of Death: Occupational cancer now accounts for approximately 70-72% of line-of-duty deaths among career firefighters.
- (d) Latency Period: Asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, often take 10 to 50 years to develop after initial exposure.
- (e) 9/11 Responders: An estimated 400 tons of asbestos were released during the World Trade Center collapse. Responders from that event are roughly 19% more likely to develop cancer than other firefighters.
(4) Prevention & Protection Measures
To mitigate these risks, departments and health organizations recommend several critical protocols:
- (a) Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) assembled a panel of experts to create a detailed list of ways firefighters can protect themselves from occupational cancer. By following these key recommendations, firefighters can guard against benign diseases, such as asbestosis and pleural thickening, in addition to asbestos-related cancers.
- (b) SCBA Use: Wearing a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) throughout all phases of an incident, especially during overhaul.
- (c) On-Site Decontamination: Washing gear at the scene and showering at the station before returning home to prevent tracking fibers into personal vehicles and residences.
- (d) Advanced Cleaning: Bagging and tagging contaminated gear for specialized “Advanced Cleaning” rather than routine in-house washing.
- (e) Don’t Bring Home Toxic Materials: Firefighters must keep contaminated PPE and clothes isolated from living and sleeping quarters. To avoid secondhand asbestos exposure, firefighters should shower at the station before returning home to their families.
- (f) Request Cancer Prevention Training: Proper training is crucial to avoiding asbestos exposure. If fire departments do not take the initiative in offering training, firefighters must be proactive in requesting it.
- (g) Wetting Debris: Keeping debris wet during cleanup to minimize airborne dust.
(h) Get Regular Screening for Occupational Diseases: Even the most thorough precautions will not remove all the environmental hazards firefighters face or reverse the effects of past toxic exposures.
(5) Legal & Financial Resources :
Firefighters diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses may have several avenues for support:
- (a) Victim Compensation Funds: Programs like the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) provide financial assistance to those exposed during the 9/11 attacks.
- (b) Presumptive Laws: Many states have laws that assume a firefighter’s cancer is duty-related, making it easier to qualify for Workers’ Compensation.
- (c) Trust Fund Claims: Billions of dollars are held in asbestos trust funds for victims to claim compensation from bankrupt manufacturers.
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