A FIREFIGHTER from Oxfordshire has joined colleagues calling for more protection after research found they were being exposed to dangerously high levels of harmful chemicals.

New research by a professor at the University of Central Lancashire shows that firefighters in the UK are twice as likely to die from cancer as the general population.

They are being exposed to harmful toxins on their clothes and equipment which contain carcinogens.

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Steve Bailey from Thame is among members of the service who think their lives have been changed due to exposure to these chemicals.

Mr Bailey was a firefighter with Buckinghamshire Fire Service for 20 years until he was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer.

Oxford Mail:

He was told he had up to three years to live two years ago.

When asked whether he thinks he has cancer today because he was a firefighter, he said: “I’d say there’s certainly a strong link between the two.”

He is using the time he has left to highlight some of the things he did as a firefighter, which may have contributed to his illness.

He added: “The chemicals and toxins that come off just one piece of wood, burning, is quite horrendous. Now you multiply that with all the plastics and metals and everything these days… what we’re breathing in is truly horrendous.”

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Professor Anna Stec, fire chemistry and toxicity expert at the University of Central Lancashire, spoke to BBC Inside Out about her research into the harmful toxins that firefighters are exposed to.

She said: “In my opinion, there is a direct link between a firefighter’s occupation and cancer. Firefighters are twice as likely to die when compared to the general population, and they’re dying from not one type of cancer, but they’ve got multiple types.”

There are toxins in all fires, from a family BBQ to an uncontrolled blaze.

Oxford Mail:

All fires contain dangerous toxins, including this blaze in Headington in early September.

Professor Anna Stec, fire chemistry and toxicity expert at the University of Central Lancashire, spoke to BBC Inside Out about her research into the harmful toxins that firefighters are exposed to.

She said: “In my opinion, there is a direct link between a firefighter’s occupation and cancer. Firefighters are twice as likely to die when compared to the general population, and they’re dying from not one type of cancer, but they’ve got multiple types.”

There are toxins in all fires, from a family barbecue to an uncontrolled blaze.

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Professor Stec said in very warm temperatures contaminants are more likely to be absorbed through the skin than usual.

Her research is also looking at the type of clothing firefighters wear to prevent this.

She said: “We will heat it up, we will see if there are any contaminants within the deeper layers of the clothing, to see what effect and what danger and risk they will bring to firefighters.”

These contaminants are on a firefighter’s clothing and every firefighter must take responsibility for cleaning their kit.

But there is no national directive or standard in the UK telling firefighters how their kit should be cleaned.

Storing equipment is also problematic: helmets have been found to contain the highest concentration of carcinogens, especially when gloves are stored in them.

BBC Inside Out, featuring Steve Bailey, was broadcast last night on BBC One. The programme is available on the BBC iPlayer.