Iowa program aims to reduce Firefighter Cancer risk
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Guowen Song, a professor at Iowa State University, is leading a new statewide program in Iowa to reduce cancer risks for firefighters.
Song and his research team launched the Iowa Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Exposure Reduction Program, working with partners from the University of Iowa, state agencies, and local fire departments. They are investigating how modern fires, involving plastics, batteries, and synthetic materials, create new health hazards for firefighters, even with protective gear.
For decades, firefighter turnout coats and pants were considered strong protection, but recent research shows they can retain contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PFAS even after cleaning. Song’s team at Iowa State built a specialized lab to simulate realistic fire conditions and analyze the chemicals released, focusing on how these particles lodge in gear and potentially expose firefighters to carcinogens during tasks like donning and doffing equipment.
The program will focus on prevention, monitoring exposure, early detection, and creating an Iowa-specific data system to improve safety standards. This is especially important in Iowa, where a high percentage of firefighters are volunteers who may not have access to the same resources as larger, urban departments. Song hopes the program will also educate future generations through classroom activities and inspire collaboration between researchers, health professionals, and fire service leaders to improve firefighter health and safety.
