London Firefighters Confront Triple Cancer Threat from Toxic Work Environment
A stark new report has revealed that London's firefighters are facing a dramatically elevated cancer risk, with middle-aged personnel being diagnosed at rates three times higher than the general population. The investigation, conducted by the London Assembly Fire Committee, highlights a growing occupational health crisis within the capital's fire service.
Alarming Statistics and Toxic Exposure
According to a Fire Brigade Union survey referenced in the report, four percent of London Fire Brigade workers aged 35 to 39 reported having been diagnosed with cancer. The report, titled Exposure to fire contaminants in London: A hidden, growing risk?, identifies routine exposure to dangerous substances released during fires as a key factor.
Firefighters in London are regularly encountering known carcinogens including asbestos, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants. While a direct causal link to cancer remains under investigation, the data shows both higher cancer incidence and abnormal tumour markers among firefighters compared to the wider public.
Persistent PPE Shortages Compound the Problem
The committee's findings come alongside warnings about ongoing issues with Personal Protective Equipment availability across London's fire stations. In 2025, firefighters reported record levels of inadequate or unavailable PPE, prompting the London Fire Commissioner to describe the situation as "a professional embarrassment."
Zack Polanski, who chairs the cross-party committee, emphasised the seriousness of the situation: "Fires don't end when the flames are out as toxic contaminants can remain long afterward. Firefighters accept risk as part of the job, but exposure to toxic chemicals should not be an unavoidable consequence of protecting the public."
London's Unique Toxic Environment
The report notes that London firefighters face a particularly hazardous working environment due to the city's dense urban landscape. The combination of significant amounts of fire retardants, plastics, and various chemicals creates what industry and union figures describe as a uniquely toxic domain.
Last year alone, the London Fire Brigade attended 18,452 fires across the capital, with each incident potentially exposing personnel to harmful combustion products. Gareth Beeton, London Regional Chair of the FBU, told the London Assembly: "There is not a firefighter that I talk to who does not know someone they have worked with, either on their watch or on their station, who has had a cancer."
International Recognition and Call for Action
The World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer designated firefighting as a carcinogenic occupation in 2023, specifically linking it to mesothelioma and bladder cancer. The organisation also noted positive associations with cancers of the colon, prostate, testis, skin melanoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
In response to these findings, the committee has called on both the Government and the National Fire Chiefs Council to take decisive action. Recommendations include establishing a UK-wide firefighter exposure and health monitoring programme, with London serving as a pilot location for operational exposure monitoring.
Progress and Ongoing Commitment
The report acknowledges that the London Fire Brigade has made significant progress in managing risks through its 2022 Fire Contaminants Policy and enhanced risk awareness training. This has helped shift workplace culture away from viewing dirty equipment as a 'badge of honour.'
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson stated: "Our firefighters must be as safe as possible at work, and we are involved in a range of activity to better understand and mitigate the effects of contaminants on their health. We provide firefighters with extensive personal protective equipment and clear and comprehensive guidance on decontamination procedures."
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London added that the London Fire Brigade has been actively working to address exposure issues through PPE improvements and ongoing training, with the Mayor planning to review the committee's report in due course.
