“Facing a New Threat: LA Firefighters Confront Massive Blazes and Health Risks”
Fighting wildfires puts wildland firefighters at risk of exposure to carcinogens, with two-thirds of firefighters succumbing to job-related cancer, reports the International Association of Firefighters. Pacific Palisades was engulfed in flames, as recounted by firefighter Joseph Field, who described the intense scene. Despite protective gear, the smoke’s irritants caused discomfort, making breathing difficult. Field’s experience highlighted the challenges faced by firefighters battling the destructive Palisades Fire, which ravaged over 23,000 acres and 5,000 structures in Southern California. Field’s concerns about potential health impacts led to him participating in a study monitoring firefighters’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals post-fire. Preliminary findings revealed elevated levels of certain chemicals in firefighters’ blood, signaling potential health risks. Researchers continue to investigate the impact of wildfires on firefighters’ health, emphasizing the importance of protective measures and ongoing monitoring.
A study released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February revealed a significant 110-fold increase in air lead levels during the LA fires. The health impacts of these exposures, particularly on firefighters, remain poorly understood as many of the affected buildings were constructed before the ban of lead paint in 1978. Over 6,000 firefighters were involved in the Palisades incident, likened to exposure events on the scale of 9/11 by Matt Rahn, executive director of the Wildfire Conservancy.
Exposure to carcinogens following the 9/11 attacks has been associated with a heightened cancer risk, with 3,500 New York City firefighters reportedly affected. Dr. Kari Nadeau, chair of the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasized the need for better understanding of the specific air, soil, and water contamination in LA during a public health discussion.
Firefighters face a two-thirds risk of job-related cancer, with even greater risks from exposure to products of combustion like those in the Los Angeles fires, according to the International Association of Firefighters. Wildland firefighters, in particular, face hazardous emissions from both natural and human-made fuels, complicating their exposure to a mixture of toxicants.
Jooyeon Hwang, an occupational health researcher at UTHealth Houston, highlighted the long-term effects of carcinogen exposure on firefighters, stressing the need for further studies. The Wildfire Conservancy is conducting field tests on respiratory devices and exploring interventions to reduce cancer risk for firefighters in the face of such hazardous exposures.
“Everything is getting through the filter except for large pieces of ash,” Rahn noted. Additionally, the respirator cartridges are not certified to protect against the specific type of smoke that the firefighters are exposed to. Even high-quality N95 masks quickly become ineffective.
“The cartridges available are tested and certified against single-gas challenges,” Urwin explained. “The challenge with smoke lies in its complex mixture of gases. Relying solely on a respirator raises uncertainty about their effectiveness against smoke exposure.”
Over the past year, conservancy researchers have been conducting field tests to evaluate various respiratory devices’ effectiveness. They are considering the conditions faced by firefighters, including stubble, sunscreen, ash, soot, smoke, and sweat.
The conservancy is also exploring clothing with an additional barrier to filter out small particles. Laboratory tests have shown up to a 95% reduction in skin contamination when using these clothes during firefighting.
After battling the Palisades Fire for seven days, Field washed his brush coat in water and detergent to remove the contaminants. Reflecting on the homes they protected, he expressed satisfaction in preventing further damage.
Field emphasized the importance of saving homes but chose not to dwell on the potential health risks. He remains focused on the present tasks at hand.
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