Tucson Standard

Firefighters may face a higher risk of prostate cancer due to chemical exposures encountered on the job, according to research from the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the University of Michigan. This study was conducted in collaboration with fire service partners and researchers nationwide through the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. males. The incidence rate for firefighters is 1.21 times higher than that of the general population, potentially due to exposure to chemicals such as smoke and firefighting foam.

These chemicals can influence gene expression through epigenetic modification, including DNA methylation, which can contribute to cancer development. Researchers discovered that experienced firefighters exhibited different epigenetic modifications compared to new firefighters in regions associated with prostate cancer.

"With these published findings, we have clear evidence of the health risks that firefighters face due to cumulative exposure on the job," said Dr. Jeff Burgess, director of the Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research and professor at UArizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

The study titled "Firefighting, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and DNA methylation of genes associated with prostate cancer risk" was published in Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis.

Dr. Burgess has been studying firefighter health for decades alongside lead author Margaret Quaid and researcher Jackie Goodrich from the University of Michigan who led gene methylation analysis.

The research found that experienced firefighters had distinct epigenetic modifications at chromosome 8q24 – a genome area linked to prostate cancer risk – compared with new firefighters.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), used in firefighting foam as well as household items like nonstick pans, are linked with epigenetic changes. The team explored whether PFAS exposure correlated with these modifications.

Results indicated similar PFAS exposure levels between new and experienced firefighters across many departments. However, branched perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure was specifically linked to epigenetic changes.

"This study demonstrates the power of the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study to combine data across grants – in this case awards from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2014, 2015 and 2018 – to more powerfully evaluate questions from the fire service, this time around exposures and increased prostate cancer risk," Burgess said.

Co-authors from Zuckerman College include toxicologist Shawn Beitel; Sally Littau; John Gulotta; Darin Wallentine; members from other institutions also contributed. The research received support from various agencies including National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences under award nos. P30ES006694 & P30ES017885; FEMA under award nos. EMW-2014-FP-00200 & others; CDC also supported it.

A version appeared on UArizona Health Sciences website.