CANCER

The Firefighter Multicenter Cancer Cohort Study
This project is funded from 2016 through 2023. This project was federally funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Interventions to Reduce Firefighter Cancer and Cardiovascular Risks 
The goal of this research is to reduce firefighter cancer and cardiovascular disease risks, including but not limited to risks associated with PFAS exposure. This project is funded from 2023 through 2026. This project was funded by the Arizona Board of Regents. 
Learn more in this video.

EXPOSURE

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Firefighter Exposures and Toxicity
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the general population has been linked to cancer, elevated cholesterol, altered immune and endocrine response, respiratory disease, and reproductive toxicity. The goal of this project is to gather further evidence on PFAS exposure in firefighters and develop best practice recommendations to reduce firefighter PFAS exposure. This project is funded by FEMA from 2019 through 2022.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Exposures and COVID-19 in Firefighters
This was funded from 2022 through 2022 by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

WILDLAND FIRE

Building Collaborations for Bushfire Firefighter Health
The Kinghorn Foundation, Fulbright Australia, February - May 2023
Download Bushfire Firefighter Fulbright Participant Report (PDF)

Wildland Fire Fighters: Exposure Assessment, Carcinogenic Effects and Risk Management
This project was funded by FEMA from 2021 to 2024. 

WOMEN FIREFIGHTERS

Inhaled Environmental Exposures and Anti-mullerian Hormone Levels, a Marker of Reproductive Health
Firefighters are exposed to many harmful materials and conditions while fighting fires. These hazardous exposures put them at risk for damaging health effects, including those that may negatively impact female reproductive health. Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) can be used as a measure of ovarian reserve, or the quantity of eggs in the ovaries. We will measure the AMH levels of female firefighters and compare them to the AMH levels of females who are not firefighters. This project is receiving federal funding from 2020 through 2022.

Women Fire Fighters Study: Stress, Cancer Risk and Reproductive Toxicity
Women firefighters have high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, increases in certain cancers, and adverse reproductive outcomes compared to women in the general population. However, the lack of sufficient information on the causes of and mechanisms leading to these occupationally related illnesses limits the creation of effective interventions. The goal of this project is to evaluate stress, cancer risk, and reproductive toxicity in women firefighters and to develop, beta test, and assess the feasibility of a peer support intervention. This project was funded by the FEMA from 2020 through 2023.

Women Fire Fighters Study: Evaluation of Exposures and Toxicity

Women firefighters have high rates of adverse reproductive outcomes including infertility, miscarriage, premature birth, and lower levels of AMH. Compared to their career counterparts, women volunteer firefighters have higher rates of miscarriage and premature birth. Women firefighters also have greatly increased bladder cancer incidence (greater than 10-fold) and mortality (greater than 30-fold) compared with comen in the general population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate exposures associated with reduced fertility and risk for bladder cancer in women firefighters, in order to plan effective interventions to mitigate these conditions. This study is funded by FEMA through 2022 to 2025.