Firefighters from Los Angeles successfully extinguish extensive fires; they express concerns about potential cancer development within their bodies.
The Pacific Palisades was consumed by flames and smoke.
Firefighter Joseph Field, a seasoned veteran with over 25 years on the Los Angeles Fire Department, described the scene as nothing he had ever encountered. "It was like every house was set ablaze, as far as the eye could see," he said.
Amidst the chaos, Field and his team fought tirelessly for seven straight days to contain the blaze, before taking a brief reprieve and returning for another eight days. "This fire was like nothing we had ever experienced before," Field admitted. "We usually take control of the situation, but this fire took control of us."
The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, which occurred in January, became the second-most destructive wildfire in Southern California's history, with over 23,000 acres scorched and more than 5,000 structures destroyed. Firefighters like Field were exposed to an unprecedented array of toxicants, from burning plastics and batteries to the smoke itself.
Field worries about the long-term impact of these toxins on his health. "We're constantly taking in smoke, eating it, you could say," he said. "I can't help but wonder what could be smoldering inside me now."
Close to 300 firefighters are participating in a study to monitor the exposure to cancer-causing chemicals following the LA fires. Researchers have collected blood and urine samples, along with contaminant-absorbing wristbands worn by the firefighters. Preliminary results from this ongoing investigation have shown elevated levels of certain chemicals called PFAS in the blood of 42 firefighters who worked the LA fires. However, it's not yet clear whether these changes will lead to health problems.
Researchers are also analyzing exposures to heavy metals, with elevated levels of key metals such as chromium, arsenic, and cobalt detected. Meanwhile, a separate study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a brief 110-fold increase in air lead levels during the LA fires. The long-term effects of these exposures are not well-understood, as many of the buildings affected were built before 1978, when lead paint was commonly used.
Such exposures are reminiscent of the 9/11 attacks, which left firefighters battling a similar onslaught of toxicants. Exposure to these carcinogens has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, with 3,500 firefighters diagnosed with cancer related to their work at the World Trade Center.
Dr. Kari Nadeau, chair of the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasized the need for more research to understand the specific contamination related to LA. "LA will be LA. We can't compare it to anything else," she noted.
Two-thirds of firefighters have died from job-related cancer, according to the International Association of Firefighters. The reality of dealing with occupational exposures is stark, says Derek Urwin, the association's chief science adviser. "Any exposure to products of combustion increases cancer risk, and these fires were obviously substantial exposures."
Wildland firefighters are regularly exposed to carcinogens, and at least 29 have been linked to this type of fire, according to a 2024 study by US Forest Service researchers. These firefighters also encounter harmful gases from off-gassing in the rubble long after the initial blaze, making fires like the Palisades Fire more complex and potentially more dangerous than either wildland or structure fires.
Jooyeon Hwang, an associate professor and occupational health researcher at UTHealth Houston, explained that the long-term effects of these exposures to carcinogens are still not fully understood. "We need more studies to understand the long-term health effects of these exposures," Hwang said, adding that it might take decades for cancer to develop after such exposures.
As researchers scramble to better understand the risks, they are also exploring interventions to reduce cancer risks for firefighters. These include improved protective gear, protective clothing with filtration capabilities, and real-time monitoring of exposure levels.
Upon returning home after the first seven days of fighting the Palisades Fire, Field soaked his gear in a bucket of water and detergent, hoping to wash away the carcinogens. Despite his concerns, Field remains focused on the task at hand—saving lives and homes, even if it means facing potential long-term health risks down the line. "I don't like to dwell on those things," he said. "When I'm faced with a situation, I deal with it then, and I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
- Firefighter Joseph Field, worried about potential long-term health effects from the toxicants he was exposed to during the Palisades Fire, soaked his gear in water and detergent upon returning home.
- Researchers are investigating the elevated levels of certain chemicals in firefighters' blood, such as PFAS, and the potential health problems they might cause.
- Interventions to reduce cancer risks for firefighters include improving protective gear, creating protective clothing with filtration capabilities, and real-time monitoring of exposure levels.
