Scottsdale Fire joins University of Arizona study
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
The Scottsdale Fire Department is participating in a $4 million grant to address occupational-related cancer.
The University of Arizona is leading the study in partnership with the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association and Arizona State University. The research will test the effectiveness of whether blood or plasma donations lower cancer-causing “forever chemicals” levels.
This information was first reported by the Scottsdale Update municipal newsletter.
Firefighters encounter these substances in many ways, including burning household items, potential contamination from personal protective equipment and firefighter foam, which is used to put out burning liquids.
Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population.
Cancer is the No. 1 killer within firefighter ranks across the nation — the Scottsdale Fire Department is trying to do something about it.
A cursory review of statistics around cancer and American firefighters is staggering as cancer caused 66% of line-of-duty deaths in recent years, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters.
