Read in Spanish

Early results from a University of Arizona-led study show that donating blood or plasma and improving cleaning routines can help firefighters reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals linked to cancer and heart disease.

The Arizona Board of Regents heard updates at their meeting earlier this month about the project, which is focused on lowering cancer risks among firefighters across the state.

The grant supporting the study was funded during the 2023 fiscal year and is being conducted in collaboration with Arizona State University, the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association and the Professional Firefighters of Arizona.

PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, are used in many consumer products because of their resistance to heat and water and are linked to cancer, immune suppression and heart problems, according to Dr. Jeff Burgess, director of the Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research.

The chemicals can also be found in smoke, firefighting foam and protective gear, leading to a higher risk of exposure for firefighters compared to the general population.

The research aims to determine if reducing PFAS exposure lowers cancer risk. Burgess referenced promising results from an Australian study in which PFAS levels decreased through blood and plasma donations.

Arizona’s version of the study includes 1,932 participants from firefighting agencies across the state, including the Tucson Fire Department.

Burgess divided the preliminary findings into two categories: steps that individuals can take to reduce PFAS exposure and actions departments can implement.

Individual actions include donating plasma or blood, which research shows can help lower PFAS levels. Plasma donation was associated with an 18% to 33% reduction in PFAS, while blood donation showed a 6% decrease.

Burgess cited an Australian study that showed that PFAS attaches to proteins in the blood, which causes it to be present in the blood serum; as a result, this serum is removed whenever blood is drawn or plasma is separated.

Other recommended practices include performing on-scene decontamination, which was linked to a 24% reduction, and switching from well water to bottled water. Burgess also advised that firefighters avoid using Aqueous Film-Forming Foam, as its use was linked to a 15% to 29% increase in PFAS exposure.

Department-level recommendations focus on limiting environmental sources of exposure. These include removing carpeting, washing turnout gear before storage, providing gear bags for transport and storage, and installing reverse osmosis filtration systems for drinking water.

With the study nearing completion, Burgess has already published the protocol and is preparing his final report. Once complete, the results will be made public and available for use in future research and by fire departments across the country.

“For firefighters who have already finished the study, we are seeing very encouraging initial results for both PFAS reduction and lowering cellular age, but we have to wait till all the results are out before we share them,” he said. “This is just the beginning. With continued support, we can solidify protocols to help firefighters live longer, healthier lives.”

Goodyear firefighter Gilbert Aguirre worked with Burgess and shared details about his battle with cancer with regents. Diagnosed 10 years ago with chronic myeloid leukemia, Aguirre said that telling his wife and three sons was the hardest part.

“In that moment, I made a promise to them, to myself, that I would fight with everything I had. I was prepared to go through hell just to have one more day with my family,” he said.

Aguirre has outlived the five-year survival rate, undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants.

He’s lost several friends to cancer and now advocates for protecting younger firefighters, including his son.

“We love this job, but we have to pay a price,” he said. “As I near the end of my career, I feel a deep responsibility to protect the next generation of firefighters, including my 15-year-old son, Giovanni, who wants to follow in my footsteps.”

He called for a stronger push for cancer awareness within the field, as well as lowering interactions with carcinogens.

Burgess’ team’s work “gives us something we desperately need: hope,” Aguirre said. “Hope that future firefighters won’t have to hear the words ‘you have cancer,’ and hope for more time.”

Goodyear Fire Captain Orion Godfrey said that two thirds of firefighters who die this year will die from occupational cancer. He said that centuries ago, people did not know what caused cancers, and now researchers are at the crossroads of understanding what causes cancer and doing something about it.

“As long as firefighters are willing to go into a burning building to save a life, we know that occupational cancer is on the table,” said Godfrey, who is also Professional Firefighters of Arizona’s state cancer coordinator. “All we are asking you is to support us when the ability is out there.”

Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon said a fire chief’s main job is to protect his firefighters and keep them safe. A member of the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association, Shannon told regents he hopes that continuing the grant will help him find new ways to ensure their safety.

“These grants [show] what a great idea can do to change the lives of everyday Arizonans, and then those everyday Arizonans understand the universities are not just in Arizona, but they are for Arizona and of Arizona,” said Arizona Board of Regents Executive Director Chad Sampson.

Emma LaPointe is a journalism, political science and German Studies major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at emma.m.lapointe@gmail.com.

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation.