'Tremendously historic day': Firefighter says Manitoba led the world to acknowledge cancer risk
After working for more than two decades, Manitoba firefighters say the world's governing body on cancer research and prevention is finally acknowledging firefighters' cancer risk.
The Manitoba Professional Firefighters Association announced on Thursday that the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is raising the cancer risk classification for firefighting from a 2B classification to the highest danger classification as Class 1.
This classification means firefighting is now acknowledged as a cancer risk equal to tobacco smoke, asbestos and benzene.
"This is a tremendously historic day for firefighters," Alex Forrest, a captain with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and president of the Manitoba Professional Firefighters Association, told CTV News.
"It is going to be a watershed moment for firefighting not only in Canada, but around the world because this will create a greater need for governments around the world to look at this danger that is killing firefighters."
Forrest said firefighters have always known their occupation is dangerous – they are exposed to high levels of carcinogens when working to extinguish fires, which puts them at a much greater risk of cancer.
He said this announcement forces the world to acknowledge that.
"What this is going to do is it finally makes the world admit that there is a problem for firefighters exposing themselves to cancer-causing agents and you can't solve that problem until you admit there's a problem," he said.
Forrest, who is also the Canadian trustee for the International Association of Firefighters, has been advocating for this for 25 years. He said this classification will open the door to improve safety for firefighters by increasing prevention and compensation and putting more money into firefighting technologies.
MANITOBA LED THE WORLD, FORREST SAYS
"All Manitobans should be proud," said Forrest, adding he believes Thursday's announcement is due to the work done in Manitoba over the past 25 years. He said back in 1997, Winnipeg firefighters became the first firefighting organization to acknowledge the connection to occupational cancer.
In 2002, Manitoba became the first province in Canada to have a firefighter presumption including brain and kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia. In the years since, the province has continued to grow the list of occupational cancers, which now includes 19 different cancers, Forrest said.
He said other provinces in Canada and countries including Australia and New Zealand have used Manitoba's legislation as a model.
"Every citizen of Manitoba and the firefighters in Manitoba should be extremely proud that they've led the world when it comes to occupational cancer," he said. "The work that we have done in Manitoba will likely save thousands of lives around the world in the coming decades."
As for why it took so long for occupational cancers to be acknowledged on a global scale – Forrest pointed to tobacco as an example.
"For 35 years, doctors knew that tobacco had a direct correlation with cancer," he said. "It took 35 years for science to acknowledge that – 35 years to acknowledge what many people now see as common sense."
Forrest said this classification is just the first step as now more studies and research will need to be done. He said it will likely be at least a generation of firefighters before new technologies and prevention can be developed to decrease the level of cancer firefighters are exposed to.
"This is just the beginning in some ways," he said.
CTV News has reached out to IARC for more information.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.