Firefighters and Asbestos: The Hidden Danger
By Jesse Herman
Firefighters are exposed to many risks on a daily basis, but one that can go unnoticed is the danger of asbestos exposure, a mineral fiber that used in construction applications throughout the 20th century. The life of a firefighter brings many potential threats that can be easy or hard to see. The profession itself takes a great deal of courage. One of the hidden threats that are not so glamorous is asbestos exposure.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued the Asbestos Ban & Phase Out in 1989. This ruling was overturned in the highly contested court decision that left many asbestos-containing products in the public realm. This led to millions of workers and civilians being wrongfully exposed to the substance.
The threat of asbestos for firefighters is subtle, and there are seldom warning signs to allow a firefighter to know whether they are or have been exposed to asbestos. Firefighters who have been exposed to asbestos usually have been in situations where they had reasons to believe they are safe.
The mineral was mixed into paint, combined with cellulose to make fiberboard and wallboard, mixed with cement to make siding shingles and formed into felt for use as roof felting and backings on vinyl flooring. Asbestos was even used in joint compound, which was used in dozens of different kinds of applications.
The mere presence of asbestos in a home or a building is not hazardous. If a firefighter located any asbestos, the best thing to do is leave it un-disturbed, as this will not allow its fibers to become airborne.
Any home or building built before 1980 has a good chance of still containing asbestos. Even firehouses should be inspected for asbestos as many of them were constructed prior to any asbestos ban.
In the case of a fire, asbestos fibers get released and when breathed in, can scar the lungs. While asbestos has been banned for most of its uses since the early 1980s, there is still a probability that asbestos fibers can be released in the air. This can only happen when asbestos-laden materials are deteriorated or broken down.
The inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to the development of a rare, but severe form of asbestos lung cancer known as mesothelioma. This illness has and continues to affect firefighters who were unknowingly exposed while on duty.
If you are a firefighter and believe you have experienced asbestos exposure, it is important to receive regular screenings by physicians to identify a possible disease. It should be known asbestos exposure does not always lead to a disease, but because the latency periods associated with asbestos illnesses can last 20 to 50 years, a regular check up is advisable.
Jesse Herman is with the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
As an ex-firefighter, I, we never thought of asbestos. Good deal putting this article on line. I now work at an environmental comapny that also works with asbestos. Even though the US EPA prohibits asbestos in building materials, Canada and Mexico do not, so materials made in these countries do not comply. If these materials are transported onto the US and then used you are back where you started. Abatement contractors keep asbestos containing materials wet and they wear filter type masks. So wear you SCBA and use water when necessary. Be careful pulling pop corn ceiling.
October 30th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I would just like to let everyone know that in case of a mesothelioma diagnosis, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, financials available on our website) provides support and financial services to patients. For more information or to get in touch with our nurse practitioner, please visit http://www.curemeso.org.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I understand that firefighters are at a risk for asbestos exposure, but when a firefighter goes into a building aren’t they protected? They wear masks, and coats, pants, etc to protect against fire, ash and anything else dangerous. I don’t think firefighters are at a risk if they take necessary precautions to having little to no exposure at the end of the day when they change out of uniform. I also don’t think there can be much help from a mesothelioma asbestos attorney when a firefighter is diagnosed with a disease. I only say that because a firefighter knows the job is always going to be risky.
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