Wildland firefighters

A decision from the Trump Administration removed about 2,000 members of the U.S. Forest Services. Now agencies that work directly with them on wildfire management say they have concerns.

Researchers are working to better understand the toxic exposures faced by the firefighters who responded.

Fire crews and equipment from around the Front Range are now in California to help with the wildfires. The state also sent a specially designed plane.

That decision by the Department of Labor was based on a review of evidence that concluded that “female firefighters, more likely than not, face heightened risks for breast, uterine and ovarian cancers… due to the toxic exposures they face in their work.”

Researchers pored over roughly four dozen papers that assessed exposure to various carcinogens on the fireline. They identified 31 carcinogens – including asbestos, volatile organic compounds like benzene and crystalline silica.

Ultimate passage is still dependent on Congress’ ability to pass a budget, something that high-profile dysfunction in recent years calls into question.

A new study finds “robust” evidence of significant gene expression changes in the brains of mice exposed to levels of wildfire smoke comparable to those of long-time wildland firefighters. One of the authors says there the level of change was surprising, and a cause for concern.