University of Cincinnati researchers have found that firefighters have a much higher risk of developing certain cancers than people in other professions, reports the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Rates of testicular cancer were 100% higher and prostate cancer 28% higher among firefighters, studies suggested. The researchers also discovered a 50% increase in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Firefighters are exposed to many compounds designated as carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer - including benzene, chloroform, soot, styrene and formaldehyde. These can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin at the scene of a fire.
The US researchers looked at studies covering 110,000 firefighters comparing cancer rates in that profession with the general population or other professions.
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