Firefighter Cancer Research Studies

In Fall 2024, eight research teams were awarded funding to advance research targeted at reducing cancer and cancer risk among firefighters. This idea was originated by Andrew Ghali, President of Hayward Firefighters, Local 1909, who presented a resolution during the 2020 CPF Convention. Through the hard work of the CPF Legislative Team, this idea became first-of-its-kind legislation to create a program and provide funding for community-based participatory research focused specifically on cancer in the fire service. The nearly $6 million in initial awards will fund research projects co-led by California firefighters and UC researchers to gain a better understanding of exposures, behaviors, and decontamination, and pursue ways to reduce risk. The following summaries are a brief look into each research proposal and the teams who were awarded funding.

Research Projects

Understanding occupational exposures to PFAS among Orange County firefighters

Co-principal investigators: Derek Biering, captain at the Orange County Fire Authority, and Veronica Vieira, professor of environmental and occupational health at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health

Goal: Researching PFAS exposure, accumulation, and cancer risk by gathering and analyzing data from a thousand firefighters exposed to active fires and indoor environments, such as fire stations and fire trucks.

The findings will be shared with the firefighters to inform cancer risk mitigation approaches. 

Examining longitudinal changes in DNA methylation in firefighters exposed to products of combustion

Co-principal investigators: Thomas Sullivan, firefighter paramedic at Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Janine LaSalle, professor of medical microbiology and immunology at UC Davis

Goal: Develop an early cancer screening test using a blood test to detect cancer biomarkers linked to workplace exposures and create solutions to protect firefighters’ health.

Researchers will study blood samples from firefighters, analyzing DNA methylation and its link to chemical exposure. The study will compare new recruits and experienced instructors, who face different exposure levels.

Firefighter indirect smoke exposure

Co-principal investigators: Jerry May, president of San Jose Fire Fighters, Local 230, and Aris Polyzos, research scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Goal: Establish new safety protocols and regulations to reduce contamination and protect firefighters’ health both on and off the job.

Firefighters’ chemical exposures can linger on their gear and accumulate in their trucks and fire stations if not properly cleaned. This research will test these surfaces for harmful chemical residues, assess their potential cancer risks, and develop effective cleaning methods.

The California firefighter cancer research study: Harmonizing cohorts to elucidate cancer risks

Co-principal investigators: Jamie Gabriel, fire captain with Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Shehnaz Hussain, professor of public health sciences at UC Davis

Goal: Help firefighters better understand their cancer risks and inspire sustainable changes through workplace regulations and behavioral changes.

Firefighters face not only chemical exposures, but also physical, mental, and behavioral risks linked to cancer, such as sleep deficiencies and stress. This research will track 647 California firefighters for a year, collecting blood samples, body data, and health metrics to examine cancer risks and protective factors.

 

Firefighters’ perceptions and behavioral patterns: A social science approach to cancer prevention

Co-principal investigators Andrew Violante, fire engineer and paramedic with the San Marcos Professional Firefighters Association, and Wei Zhao, professor of sociology at UC Riverside

Goal: Develop impactful cancer prevention programs and provide a foundation for a larger survey of California firefighters, ultimately improving their health and safety.

Personal background, group dynamics, and organizational culture influence firefighter practices with protective gear and cancer-causing exposures. Through observations, interviews, and surveys, researchers will gather insights to develop workplace interventions aimed at improving cancer risk awareness and prevention. The study will introduce early cancer detection tests, educational initiatives, and improve policies, then evaluate their impact on firefighter behavior and perceptions.

Identifying carcinogenic chemical exposures in firefighters to reduce cancer risk

Co-principal investigators: Jeffrey Kimura, fire captain at Los Angeles County Fire Department and Brigitte Gomperts, professor of pediatrics and pulmonary medicine UC Los Angeles

Goal: Determine specific causes of cancer in firefighters and develop better guidelines for cleaning and handling of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce cancer risk.

Recent studies show that chemicals in firefighters’ PPE can cause cancer, with repeated use releasing more harmful substances. Additionally, particles from fires attach to PPE, trapping chemicals that increase cancer risk. This study will track the chemicals and particles on firefighter jackets and test them for cancer-causing effects on airway cells.

Characterization of mutagen-driven landscapes and signatures of tumors arising in firefighters

Co-principal investigators: Jeff Meston, executive director of the California Fire Chiefs Association and John McPherson, professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at UC Davis

Goal: Identify which carcinogens most likely cause the DNA damage leading to cancer to improve safety practices, training, and equipment to reduce exposure in firefighters.

Certain cancer-causing chemicals firefighters are exposed to can damage their DNA over time. This project will analyze tissue from firefighters diagnosed with cancer, examining DNA in tumor cells for specific markers left by these chemicals.

Individualized exposure assessment of firefighters to airborne carcinogens

Co-principal investigators: Ryan Tripp, fire captain, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Cristina Davis, professor of Mechanical Engineering at UC Davis

Goal: Develop fireground training and education modifications to reduce cancer risk across California.

Firefighters frequently train by ways of practice fires which increases their chemical exposure. This study will use air sampling tools during training, along with samples of exhaled breath, urine, and skin swabs, to identify and analyze which exercises cause the most exposure.

We look forward to bringing you updates on these groundbreaking studies, and in 2025 CPF will continue pushing for additional funding for expanded research opportunities that protects our firefighters and secures their health for generations to come.

CPF Fire Wire – Firefighter Cancer Awareness and Research

On this episode of the Fire Wire, President Rice is joined by Jerry May, President of San Jose Fire Fighters, Local 230, to discuss the California Firefighter Cancer Research and Prevention Program, created by CPF-sponsored AB 700, and how this research will impact firefighters for generations to come. Together, they explore the value of early cancer screening and why building strong peer networks is essential for sharing ideas, resources, and opportunities that can help save lives.

Now more than ever, California Professional Firefighters is committed to the fight against cancer.

CPF has partnered with researchers at Kaiser Permanente on a new California Firefighter Health Study. The study will focus on identifying factors that may increase a firefighter’s risk of cancer.

This study is currently underway. Thank you to everyone who answered the call and is participating in this important research. When available, we will add prevention resources and study findings from Kaiser here.