Firefighter Cancer & PFAS: Dr. Jeff Burgess on Exposure Reduction, Decon, and the FFCCS
Travis interviews Dr. Jeff Burgess, professor and director of the Firefighter Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, about firefighter wellness with a focus on cancer and occupational exposures. Burgess explains his background in emergency medicine, toxicology, and occupational medicine and how fit-testing and medical surveillance work with Tucson and Seattle fire departments led him into firefighter health research. They discuss ongoing cancer risks from inhalation and skin absorption, PFAS “forever chemicals” from multiple sources (gear, contaminated drinking water, AFFF, and fire response), and emerging concerns such as reproductive and neurodegenerative effects. Burgess emphasizes practical exposure reduction: on-scene soap-and-water washdown (shown to cut urinary chemicals by over 30% and lower at least one PFAS), prompt gear removal and laundering, glove use when handling dirty gear, and wearing SCBA during overhaul to reduce asbestos exposure linked to mesothelioma. They also cover protections for fire investigators and highlight the Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS), launched in 2018 with 8,300+ participants across 32 states, which collects repeated blood and urine samples to track exposures over time; more info is available at ffccs.org.
00:00 Meet Dr Jeff Burgess
00:46 Career Path Into Research
02:12 Why Firefighters
05:17 Whats New In Cancer Risk
07:49 PFAS Beyond The Gear
11:41 Decon Showers And Washdown
15:27 Clean Cab And Bagging Gear
18:19 PPE For Dirty Gear Handling
20:04 SCBA During Overhaul
21:35 Investigator Exposure Protection
27:34 Firefighter Cohort Study Explained
31:32 Enroll And Closing Resources
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