U.S. Fire Administration Blog: Miracle Mineral Threatens Firefighters

No fire is routine for a firefighter. Each blaze carries multiple hazards and requires a level of high alertness necessary to avoid those hazards, which include much more than just heat, flames, and precarious climbs on tall ladders. As a matter of fact, one of the most serious hazards confronting today’s firefighters is the presence of asbestos in buildings constructed prior to 1980. Once known as a miracle mineral because of its strength and incredible heat and fire resistance, asbestos enjoyed widespread use throughout the construction industry for decades and is found in insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, drywall, and many other building products. While asbestos is usually considered safe if it is intact and in good condition, asbestos damaged by fire can be lethal and may eventually cause a form of asbestos cancer known as mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma can develop when a firefighter inhales tiny, sharp asbestos fibers, which can lodge in the lungs, first causing inflammation and later developing into cancerous tumors. Asbestos cancer is aggressive and kills quickly and mesothelioma treatment options have traditionally offered little hope for the sufferer. And because mesothelioma has a long latency period, firefighters who’ve been exposed to asbestos often do not know they have the disease until 20-50 years after exposure and therefore are sometimes lax about taking the proper steps to avoid exposure.

The use of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is essential when a firefighter is exposed to environmentally hazardous conditions, especially when older structures are involved. SCBA should be worn by all firefighters during fire suppression and overhaul activities. The SCBA will provide clean, breathable air, free of asbestos particles, and it should continue to be worn even after the fire is extinguished to avoid inhalation from dust remaining in rubble and debris. The device should always be cleaned after use to avoid transfer of asbestos particles and all additional protective gear should be removed at the scene as well so as to prevent spreading of the fibers to other locations. Cases of secondhand exposure and the development of mesothelioma in co-workers and/or family members could result if the dangerous dust spreads.

Firefighters involved in follow-up activities, such as investigation work, should wear appropriate respiratory protection as well. Airborne asbestos particles could be present in heavily damaged structures for long periods of time so anyone involved in an arson/cause and origin investigation, clean up, or evidence recovery should wear respiratory protection if asbestos is known or suspected to be present. An SCBA might not be necessary in these follow-up activities but an APR (air purifying respirator) would still be warranted.

For more information on asbestos and mesothelioma, please visit these Web sites:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - Asbestos
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (includes respirator recommendations)
NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory - Respirators
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
National Cancer Institute