NFA, our Danish member institute, published an interesting paper on Chemical Working Environment, Toxicology, Nanosafety and Microbiology.
Abstract
Occupational exposure as a firefighter was classified as “carcinogenic to humans” (Group 1) based on “sufficient” evidence for cancer in humans. The IARC Working Group concluded that there was “sufficient” evidence in humans for mesothelioma and bladder cancer. There was “limited” evidence in humans for colon, prostate, and testicular cancers, and for melanoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. There was also “strong” mechanistic evidence that occupational exposure as a firefighter shows the following key characteristics of carcinogens in exposed humans: “is genotoxic”, “induces epigenetic alterations”, “induces oxidative stress”, “induces chronic inflammation”, and “modulates receptor-mediated effects”. Evidence regarding cancer in experimental animal models was “inadequate” because no studies were available. The Group 1 evaluation for occupational exposure as a firefighter should be presumed to apply to all firefighters (including volunteers) and to both men and women.
The Lancet Oncology
IF 2021: 54,433
Demers PA, DeMarini DM, Fent KW, Glass DC, Hansen J, Adetona O, Andersen MHG, Freeman LEB, Caban-Martinez AJ, Daniels RD, et al. 2022. Carcinogenicity of occupational exposure as a firefighter. The Lancet Oncology. 23(8):985-986. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(22)00390-4
More information
Alex Hooshiar – axh@nfa.dk
