CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — In 2023, the International Association of Fire Fighters added 571 names to the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Wall, and 361 of those names died from occupational cancer.
"It's real. We have probably had 5 to 10 just in Illinois in the last 18 months succumb to the illness," said Chuck Sullivan, AFFI President.
Over the weekend, the Sycamore, Illinois Fire Department laid to rest one of its own. According to Sullivan, Bradley Belanger, a firefighter and paramedic for the DeKalb County community, battled esophageal cancer until the end.
"He never smoked. He never drank. He had been on the job for 20 years."
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, and research suggests firefighters are at higher risk of certain types of cancers when compared to the general public.
Those startling numbers have researchers working around the clock to learn more about the dangerous chemicals these first responders are exposed to.
"We are looking at what's in the environment that firefighters are exposed to. We are looking at what passed through their PPE and what gets inside them," said Farzaneh Masoud, Director of Research at Illinois Fire Service Institute.
Related Links
- Occupational cancer now leading cause of death for fire fighters
- January dedicated as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month
- Fire Fighters’ Union files suit to halt toxic turnout gear testing standard
IFSI has recently invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to make changes to a lab on its campus. Masoud shared that researchers are partnering with Springfield and Champaign Firefighters to create a biobank of biological samples.
These samples will help researchers learn more about how exposure to carcinogens can cause changes in the genome and how it affects firefighter's genes. In addition, IFSI is also trying to find out how the epigenome is being affected.
"We have this opportunity to examine and observe firefighters in the natural way of handling things and how they naturally get exposed to this carcinogen. This is very unique."
IFSI is also working with local medical partners in Champaign. Masoud said the research can help bring awareness to the medical society and healthcare providers, and show that firefighters are different and need to be treated differently, screened differently, and monitored differently.
Firefighters can be exposed to hundreds of different chemicals in the form of gases, vapors, and particulates. They can come into contact with chemicals by breathing them in, getting them on their skin or in their eyes, or ingesting them.
Sullivan said throughout January, Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month, AFFI has developed 4 weeks of training to focus on cancer-related topics; such as precautions in fire stations and preventing exposure.
Just recently, studies have shown that firefighter bunker gear contains PFAS (a category of manufactured chemicals linked to cancer and other diseases). The chemical is used in firefighter turnout gear and poses an unnecessary occupational threat, according to IAFF.
"We don't have an alternative right now. Our International, through Congress, is trying to pass a bill that would put the IAFF at the seat of the table researching to develop bunker gear that is actually PFAS free," said Sullivan.
He also added that in the future, communities across Illinois and the U.S. will need to make investments in firefighter gear and stations. He wants citizens to know that these large investments are meant to keep firefighters safe.
The Illinois Fire Service Institute plans to make other large investments. It also plans to roll out a mobile lab that will allow researchers to go to firefighters and collect biological samples. To read more about their research, click here.
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