The Boston Fire Department has tried to combat cancer in its ranks by obtaining new breathing gear and requiring firefighters wear it until they leave a fire, equipping stations with industrial-strength washing machines, and buying extra sets of protective gear.
The Boston (MA) Fire Department has been taking major steps to ensure its members are aware of the cancer risks that exist as they do their jobs. Now, it is taking a look at fire stations to see what risks exist there. The short answer is yes, there is plenty inside a station that can expose firefighters to harmful carcinogens, mostly on the apparatus floor. Diesel exhaust that is not vented from the building or filtered somehow is one area that should not need explanation at this point. Read more about what the Boston Fire Department is doing to reduce cancer risks in its fire stations.