Culture change may help firefighters reduce cancer risk

A soot-caked helmet and grimy turnout gear have long been symbols of grit and experience among American firefighters. Yet exposure to contaminated equipment can increase the risk of cancer. Now, attitudes toward protective wear and other safety measures may be shifting in California firehouses. A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, examines how cancer-prevention practices are taking hold among firefighters in the state.