It is common knowledge that firefighters have a dangerous profession: between battling fires and scaling tall buildings to rescue
residents that are trapped inside their homes, firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis. However, one of the hidden dangers
these brave men and women are facing is potentially more dangerous than any other – the threat of
asbestos cancer. Recent studies have confirmed that at least
80% of structures built prior to 1980 contain materials such as insulation, piping or electrical wiring that contain asbestos.
When materials containing asbestos are damaged from a fire, the risk of exposure becomes even greater, as these asbestos-containing
fibers are released into the air and inhaled by the firefighters. Asbestos can also present in rubble and debris that accumulates
after a fire disaster, which puts firefighters and other emergency personnel in danger during the clean-up process following a fire,
when many firefighters are no longer protected by the appropriate safety apparel and equipment. Additionally, asbestos-containing
materials may be present within the older firehouses that serve as a place of both work and residence for the firefighters, which
puts them in jeopardy even when they are not in the midst of battling a fire.
Despite the assumption that health complications from asbestos are no longer a widespread issue, asbestos remains a present health
threat to the brave men and women who serve as firefighters. Exposure to asbestos has been shown to cause a deadly type of cancer
known as mesothelioma, for which there is no known cure. For
further information regarding mesothelioma and mesothelioma treatment,
please visit mesothelioma.com.
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