Research collaboration informs international classification of firefighting as carcinogenic
The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently classified occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic, changing the previous classification of possibly carcinogenic. The reclassification came after many studies, including several led by the University of Arizona Health Sciences in collaboration with the Tucson Fire Department, supplied evidence that occupational exposure as a firefighter causes cancer.
"The IARC, the foremost international body for cancer research, is saying that firefighting is definitely associated with cancer," said Dr. Jeff Burgess, professor in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences, and BIO5 Institute member. "This is a really important outcome that our research has helped to support, but it's also just the beginning. Now, it's our job to work with the fire service to help way find ways of preventing these increased numbers of cancers."