In 2025, 80% of the names added to the IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial Wall died from occupational cancer. In Canada, where presumptive legislation captures occupational cancer more comprehensively, estimates suggest this figure is closer to 94%.

Regardless of where you are, firefighters face significantly increased cancer risks compared to the general population.

According to the IAFF, Firefighters have about a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from it than the general population. Some individual cancers show a risk of more the 2x versus the general population (i.e. testicular cancer 2+ times the risk for firefighters).

The World Health Organization's (WHO) International Association for Research on Cancer (IARC) has officially declared firefighting as a cancer-causing profession by moving it from a 'Group 2B - Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans' to a 'Group 1 - Carcinogenic to Humans'. See the Monographs HERE.

Firefighters are exposed to thousands of toxicants through smoke and soot, whether at an incident, through overhaul, by secondary or tertiary contamination, and even from their own gear. The toxins to which firefighters are exposed include:

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Heavy metals including lithium and 'the 9' toxicants from vehicle fires
• Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS 'Forever Chemicals') and
• Other organic toxins such as benzene

These not only have been proven to cause cancer, but a host of other diseases and DNA mutations.

And it's not just the soot you can see - 97% of the particulates that you are exposed to as a firefighter cannot be seen. That soot you can see represents only 3% of the danger to your body.

The University of Ottawa study quantifying firefighter exposure (2018) showed firefighters had 3-5X more metabolites (byproducts of PAHs) in their urine after a fire on average, with 4 times increase of the potential for DNA mutations. Some had PAH concentrations up to 60x higher after a fire.

Hot spot areas included the head, hands, underarms and groin.

As a rule of thumb, if it's on your gear, it's on your skin and can be absorbed. And the more your skin's temperature increases, the more easily those toxins are absorbed into your bloodstream - the rate of dermal absorption increases 400% for every 5-degree increase in body temperature.

New research shows toxins can absorb into your skin just minutes after exposure, making quick and proper decon of utmost importance. Like it or not, your skin is in the game.

When you go home, those toxins come with you.
The term 'Toxic Handoff' means that contamination can occur through surface exposure, secondary or even tertiary exposure - you expose others as these toxins are transferred from you, your hair, your clothing, your equipment, your vehicle ... all the way to your home, causing increased risk for yourself and your family.

A Miami study found firefighters who were not on scene actually showed higher rates of exposure than those who were, due to surface transfer.

A study in Kitsap Washington found children of firefighters more than 27 times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer (see our Research page for links to this and other research studies).

This also translates to your gear - even after it's been washed, testing has shown gear remains contaminated. Studies show only 40% of toxicants are removed, meaning every time you don your gear, you are exposed to 60% of toxins from the last incident, and the time before that, and the time before that.

In Ontario alone, firefighter occupational cancer is estimated to cost over $500 million per year in treatment, disability claims, lost staffing capacity, overtime, and long-term benefits. That’s one province, in one country.

Prevention saves lives — and reduces avoidable cost in dollars.

Using wipes on scene is a great way for initial, quick personal decon - effectiveness varies, but wipes are shown to remove as much as 54% of contaminants from those areas wiped effectively. Hot spots missed are the underarms, groin, face, neck and hands, requiring other methods of decontamination.

Your standards should require washing immediately and thoroughly after an incident with a proven decon soap for maximum risk reduction. 

SOOTSOAP was developed specifically for firefighter decontamination and has been lab and field tested with firefighters to remove organic toxicants associated with firefighter exposure.

The 2025 NFPA 1585 Standard for Exposure and Contamination Control officially recognizes the risks of dermal exposure and skin absorption and states the importance of post exposure personal decontamination. Section A.5.2.4. states "Soap and water are best for removing fireground or nonbiological contaminants. It is important to wash for at least 20 seconds with soap".

Now that the Standards are (sort of) starting to catch up to the risk, or at least admit there's one there, let's focus on the most effective post incident cleansing for best possible risk reduction.

Carcinogenic PAHs can become detectable in the bloodstream within minutes of exposure — in some cases, as little as 16 minutes. That means risk reduction begins as soon as possible after exposure.

"Shower within the Hour" is a great start, but a better guideline would be to wash as quickly, as thoroughly and as effectively as possible post-exposure. This means washing your hands and any body part touched or exposed to gear directly after exposure, paying special attention to hot spot areas including neck, hands, groin and underarms.

It also means having an effective contaminant-removing soap on scene for washing, as well as in the stations and/or at home for decontaminating after handling contaminated equipment, and showering products for both skin and hair that are proven to eliminate toxicants.

If you're showering and still smelling "that smell" (you know the one) even after washing, that is an indication of significantly increased levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; including Group 1 carcinogenics) in your body. 

That smoky smell = a 46% increase in PAHs

A 2021 study (Hoppe-Jones C, et al. Evaluation of fireground exposures using urinary PAH metabolites. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2021) found that skin smelling like smoke after having showered after a fire was associated with a 46% increase in urinary PAH metabolites compared to firefighters responding to a fire and their skin not smelling like smoke. 

This means that if you're smelling that smoky smell even after showering, that is significantly associated with a dramatic increase in cancer-causing, DNA-mutating toxins in your body.

Up your decon game with soap and shampoo designed specifically for firefighter decon. If you are still smelling that smoky stench after washing or showering, your soap isn't cutting it. 

Firefighter cancer prevention isn’t a single action — it’s a series of small, disciplined steps taken every time we’re exposed.

Each step of decontamination removes another layer of risk. Miss one, and exposure compounds. Do them together, and risk is reduced. That’s how inches are gained.

Soot, smoke, and carcinogenic particulates don’t just live on gear — they settle on skin, hair, and high-absorption areas, where uptake increases as the body is hot, sweaty, and fatigued - absorption increases by 400% for every 5 degree increase in skin temperature.

Until contaminants are removed from the firefighter, exposure continues. Personal decontamination is the only form of decon that directly addresses the firefighter’s body.

That’s why personal decontamination isn’t optional. It’s the final — and most personal — inch.

Below are practical, proven actions firefighters and departments can take to gain ground against exposure. None are complicated. All are effective. Together, they matter.