INCREASED CANCER RISKS FROM FIRES IN MODERN BUILDINGS

Yesterday's K-W Record carries the story "Firefighters face higher cancer risk". Paul Atkinson of the Ontario Professional Firefighters Association said in regards to protective equipment " It keeps you from burning, but doesn't stop the toxic vapours from coming in contact with the skin or being absorbed or swallowed". He also said "And while there are fewer fires, they are more toxic because of the increased prevalence of plastics and chemicals in construction..". The number of cancers including brain tumours are dramatically rising in long term firefighters. Similar to other environmental exposures atkinson said "...it is not one fire that causes job related cancer, but an accumulation of years of exposure to toxic chemicals". This is the same scenario for example in the Bishop St. community in Cambridge in regards to TCE (Trichloroethylene) and also is of concern regarding numerous fires and dense smoke released by Chemtura (Uniroyal) in Elmira which exposes both firefighters and citizens.