Firefighters continue to face exposure to toxic contaminants
A London Assembly Fire Committee report warns that firefighters in London may be routinely exposed to hazardous substances released during fires.
The report Exposure to fire contaminants in London: A hidden, growing risk? was produced by the London Assembly Fire Committee.
The findings identify asbestos, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants among contaminants present at incidents.
The Committee notes that definitive UK evidence on cancer causation is still emerging.
Research presented to the Committee shows higher cancer incidence and abnormal tumour markers among firefighters compared with the general population.
Fire Brigade Union commissioned research found that 4% of firefighters surveyed, around 1 in 25, reported a cancer diagnosis in a self-reported sample of more than 11,000 personnel.
Prevalence was highest among those aged 35 to 39, around three times the rate seen in the general population.
Between 10% and 15% of respondents were recorded as having abnormal tumour markers, compared with a control group drawn from the public.
Policy progress and recommendations for national action
The Committee concludes that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) Fire Contaminants Policy has shifted attitudes away from the “badge of honour” of dirty kit.
Implementation varies widely across stations, partly because of limitations in personal protective equipment availability and older station layouts.
The Committee urges the Government and the National Fire Chiefs Council to reduce firefighters’ exposure to fire contaminants.
Recommendations include creating a UK-wide exposure and health monitoring programme for firefighters.
A pilot of operational exposure monitoring in London is also proposed.
Further measures call for stronger training, assurance and compliance with fire contaminants policies, improved PPE supply and procurement planning, and greater emphasis on health promotion within occupational health services.
The Committee also asks the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to review evidence on cancer risks linked to firefighting.
Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee Zack Polanski AM said: “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.
“While London Fire Brigade has made real progress, this report shows more needs to be done to understand and reduce the long-term health risks firefighters face.”
The report treats decontamination practices, station design and long-term health monitoring as closely connected areas for further action.
Lifestyle references criticised by the Fire Brigades Union
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has responded to the London Assembly Fire Committee report Exposure to fire contaminants in London: A hidden, growing risk?.
In its statement, the FBU said the report includes a recommendation referring to “positive lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation, physical fitness, diet, sleep hygiene, and alcohol awareness”.
Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “Firefighters are dying younger and living with life-altering cancers and chronic illness.
“These are preventable occupational deaths, and this is a national scandal.
“The UK is decades behind other countries on this issue, and this report underlines the urgent need for basic, long-overdue measures: stronger prevention measures, regular health monitoring for all firefighters, and re-evaluation of compensation for firefighters’ occupational diseases.
“However, firefighters will rightly find the references to ‘lifestyle’ offensive.
“Firefighters are not getting sick because of personal choices – they are getting sick because they are being systematically exposed to toxic substances in the course of their work.
“When so many other countries and international bodies are doing the right thing and recognising the risks firefighters face, it is time for our own government to stop ignoring the evidence and act.”
Anna Stec, Professor of Fire Chemistry and Toxicity at the University of Lancashire, said: “While the report makes positive recommendations on the need for a UK-wide rollout of harmonised contamination exposure tracking and health monitoring for firefighters, the argument that firefighter cancers and diseases could be reduced through lifestyle changes is fallacious.
“Lifestyle factors influence health outcomes in any population, but they do not explain the elevated rates of cancer and disease seen in firefighters.
“Why should firefighters be expected to adopt such changes in order to compensate for the toxic environments they are routinely exposed to at work?”
Report Summary: Exposure to fire contaminants in London: A hidden, growing risk?
Why the investigation was launched
The report states that firefighters are expected to accept risk as part of their work, but that exposure to fire contaminants represents an emerging and less visible risk, particularly in relation to cancer.
Purpose of the Committee’s inquiry
The London Assembly Fire Committee launched its investigation to examine how these risks are manifesting in London, the evidence linking exposure to cancer, and what actions could better protect firefighters locally and nationally.
Nature of exposure in London
Evidence presented to the Committee indicates that firefighters in London are exposed to products of combustion at fire incidents, and that these exposures are broadly similar to those faced elsewhere in the UK.
Cumulative exposure in London
Witnesses told the Committee that, because of the high number of fires attended in London, there may be risks associated with cumulative exposure, even though London is otherwise comparable to other large metropolitan areas.
Evidence and uncertainty on cancer causation
The report notes that definitive UK evidence of direct causal links between firefighting and specific cancers is still developing, given the varied nature of exposures and the time it can take for related illnesses to emerge.
International evidence context
The Committee references the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s 2023 designation of occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic, while also noting that more UK-specific research is needed.
Why uncertainty should not delay action
The Committee argues that the absence of definitive causal proof should not prevent action, and that better assessment, measurement and tracking of exposure is needed.
Call for a national monitoring programme
The report recommends that central government, working with the National Fire Chiefs Council and devolved administrations, establish a UK-wide firefighter exposure and health monitoring programme with national standards for data collection and long-term surveillance.
Recommendation on compensation evidence review
The Committee recommends that the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council undertake a fresh review of the evidence on cancer risks linked to firefighting, in light of developments since its 2021 position paper.
Progress made by London Fire Brigade
The Committee recognises that London Fire Brigade (LFB) has taken several steps since publishing its Fire Contaminants Policy in 2022, and that this has led to a clear cultural shift away from viewing dirty kit as a “badge of honour”.
Key elements of the policy in practice
The report describes changes such as safe disrobe procedures, the use of designated zones within fire stations to reduce cross-contamination, and the expectation that firefighters should shower within an hour of exposure.
Changes to frontline practice
Witnesses and site visits indicated that firefighters are now more focused on decontamination at incidents and on preventing secondary exposure when returning to stations or fire engines.
Persistent practical barriers
The report identifies ongoing challenges with the availability of personal protective equipment, including shortages reported in 2025, which have affected implementation of the policy in some cases.
Financial and operational pressures
The Committee notes that increased cleaning and replacement of PPE are placing additional pressure on fire and rescue service budgets.
Station design as a structural constraint
The report finds that many older fire stations were not designed with modern contamination control in mind, making it difficult to separate clean and contaminated areas consistently.
Cross-contamination risks in existing stations
The Committee observed that, in some stations, contaminated equipment still has to pass through areas intended to remain clean because of building layout constraints.
Recommendations on future PPE contracts
The report recommends that LFB ensure its next PPE contract is designed to meet current and anticipated demands from fire contaminants policies, including more frequent cleaning, faster turnaround times and sufficient stock levels.
Recommendation on exposure monitoring in London
The Committee calls for LFB to develop a time-limited pilot exposure monitoring programme for operational firefighters, scoped in 2026/27 and launched in 2027/28, developed with academic and occupational health experts.
Existing health screening arrangements
The report records that London firefighters receive routine medicals every three years, including basic cardiorespiratory checks and an asbestos-specific element.
Limits of cancer screening
The Committee notes that comprehensive cancer screening for firefighters is complex, and that some cancers most strongly associated with firefighting, such as mesothelioma and bladder cancer, do not currently have safe, reliable population-level screening tests in routine NHS use.
Prevention and occupational health
The report recommends that LFB strengthen its prevention-focused approach by embedding proactive health promotion, including support around smoking cessation, fitness, diet, sleep and alcohol, within routine occupational health provision.
Regulatory context
The Committee records that the Health and Safety Executive considers the existing regulatory framework, including the Health and Safety at Work Act, COSHH regulations and Workplace Regulations, sufficient to reflect firefighting’s classification as a carcinogenic occupation.
Overall conclusion of the Committee
The Committee concludes that LFB’s Fire Contaminants Policy represents a substantial step forward, but that further national coordination, better exposure data, improved PPE systems and updated fire station design standards are needed to reduce long-term health risks for firefighters.