November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and for firefighters, this is an excellent time to visit a doctor and undergo testing for respiratory and lung-related conditions, such as asthma or mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that has no cure and is caused by exposure to asbestos. There are approximately 400,000 firefighters in the U.S., and all of these brave men and women are considered to be at a "heightened risk" of developing lung-related diseases.
According to an article published by the British Journal of Industrial Medicine, firefighters are included in a group of professionals who are more likely to experience “chronic respiratory morbidity” as a result of occupational exposure to a number of toxins. One such toxin is asbestos, a naturally occurring material that is frequently found in the form of attic insulation, drywall, and floor and ceiling tiles and is the only known cause of mesothelioma cancer. When asbestos-containing products are damaged by the intense heat of a fire, they may release small asbestos fibers in to the air, putting firefighters at great risk of inhalation. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers may cling to the pleural lining of the lungs for up to fifty years before an affected individual may begin to experience mesothelioma cancer symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and chronic, painful cough.
Because firefighters are required to wear a self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, during the extinguishment phase of a fire, they are protected from inhaling various airborne chemicals, such carbon monoxide and asbestos fibers, but it is imperative that they continue to wear their SCBA during the rehab/overhaul phase of all fires as well, as cooling debris and rubble can continue to release toxins (including asbestos fibers) into the air. In fact, studies have shown that the firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center attacks in 2001 have an extremely high rate of asthma and are at a serious risk of developing mesothelioma. However, because this disease has a latency period of twenty to fifty years, these men and women – and any firefighter who has been exposed to asbestos – may not experience any symptoms or receive a diagnosis for several decades.
Mesothelioma.com encourages all firefighters to speak with their doctor during the month of November and consider medical testing to determine their risk of developing respiratory or lung-related illnesses.
Mesothelioma.com is a leading web resource for information related to occupational asbestos exposure and the associated health risks, including the onset of mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma.com also features important information for individuals who are currently suffering from this terrible disease, including content focused on mesothelioma treatment and financial support.
