London Firefighters still exposed to toxic chemicals and growing cancer concerns

Firefighters in London continue to face exposure to hazardous fire contaminants and face a higher chance of diagnosing with cancer, despite growing culture shift across the London Fire Brigade (LFB) and improvements in policy.

A new report from the London Assembly Fire Committee – Exposure to fire contaminants in London: A hidden, growing risk? – finds that firefighters in London may be routinely exposed to toxic substances released during fires, including known carcinogens such as asbestos, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. While definitive UK evidence on cancer causation is still emerging, research presented to the Committee shows higher cancer incidence and abnormal tumour markers among firefighters compared with the general population.

According to FBU (Fire Brigade Union) commissioned Research, 4% of firefighters surveyed (around 1 in 25) reported having been diagnosed with cancer, based on a self-reported survey of more than 11,000 firefighters. The highest prevalence was among those aged 35–39, around three times higher than the general population. Researchers also found that 10–15% had abnormal tumour markers, compared with a control group from the general public.¹

The Committee found LFB’s Fire Contaminants Policy has helped to drive a clear cultural shift away from the “badge of honour” of dirty kit. Yet, longstanding challenges around PPE and older station designs are contributing to wide variation in how the policy is applied in practice.

To address this, the Committee calls on the Government and the National Fire Chiefs Council to take action to better understand and reduce firefighters’ exposure to fire contaminants. Key recommendations include establishing a UK-wide firefighter exposure and health monitoring programme and piloting exposure monitoring for operational firefighters in London.

Other recommendations in the report include:

• strengthening training, assurance and compliance with fire contaminants policies
• improving PPE availability and future-proofing procurement
• embedding health promotion and preventative support within occupational health provision
• calling on the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to review evidence on cancer risks linked to firefighting

Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee, Zack Polanski AM, said:

“Fires don’t end when the flames are out as toxic contaminants can remain long afterward. Firefighters accept risk as part of the job, but exposure to toxic chemicals should not be an unavoidable consequence of protecting the public.”

“While London Fire Brigade has made real progress, this report shows more needs to be done to understand and reduce the long-term health risks firefighters face.”