Firefighters have a greater risk of developing and dying from cancers, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).1 Fighting fires can expose firefighters to hundreds of different gasses and chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer. Ways they can be exposed include:
Inhalation
Skin or eye contact
Ingestion
Despite high exposures, firefighters may have difficulty receiving cancer screenings because standard guidance does not promote regular screenings.2,3,4
