Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Risk in Firefighters

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 24 Mar 2009 - Updated: 3 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information explains why firefighters face a higher risk of mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the membranes lining the chest and abdomen, as a result of asbestos released when older buildings burn, collapse or are pulled apart during overhaul. It draws on a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study of 29,993 career firefighters published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, which found about twice the expected number of mesothelioma cases, and on the 2022 decision by the International Agency for Research on Cancer to classify firefighting as carcinogenic to humans. The material sets out where asbestos is found, how exposure happens at the fire scene and in older stations, and the practical steps that reduce it, which makes it useful for active firefighters, fire service retirees and seniors, people with disabilities linked to occupational lung disease, and the family members and caregivers who support them.

At a Glance

• 1 - Current evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.
• 2 - Mesothelioma typically appears 20 to 40 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
• 3 - Asbestos exposure causes most mesothelioma, and 2,669 new U.S. cases were reported in 2022.
• 4 - The EPA banned ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos in March 2024. Asbestos already installed in older buildings remains in place.

Topic Definition

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer that forms in the mesothelium, the thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen and covers the organs inside them. Most cases are caused by breathing in asbestos fibers, which can stay trapped in the body for many years, and the disease usually appears 20 to 40 years after the first exposure. It most often affects people who worked with or around asbestos, including construction and shipyard workers, insulators and firefighters. Common symptoms include trouble breathing, cough, pain under the rib cage, and pain or swelling in the abdomen.

Overview

Firefighting is a well-known hazardous occupation. Firefighters put out fires and save lives, and in doing so they face obvious immediate dangers such as flames, smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning and collapsing buildings. A less obvious hazard can take decades to show itself - exposure to asbestos, the main cause of a rare and aggressive cancer called mesothelioma.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals that resist heat, electricity and chemical damage [National Cancer Institute, 2021]. Because of these properties, asbestos was used in many buildings and other structures throughout the 1900s. It may still be found in older pipe insulation, furnace components and gaskets, vinyl floor tiles and adhesives, roofing and siding shingles, textured paint and patching compounds [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.].

Asbestos is a known human carcinogen, and the overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of exposure [National Cancer Institute, 2021]. In March 2024 the Environmental Protection Agency finalized a ban on ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only form still used in or imported into the United States [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2024]. That rule deals with ongoing uses, so asbestos installed decades ago remains in place in many older structures.

Why Firefighters Are at Risk

Asbestos was frequently used in older buildings, often as insulation, and a firefighter's job is to fight fires that often break out in those same buildings. Asbestos fibers are released into the air when material containing them is disturbed or damaged [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.]. The fibers do not evaporate or dissolve, and small fibers can stay in the air for a long time, so the hazard can remain after a fire has been put out [Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2001].

Firefighters also face repeated exposure. A person caught in a single fire may be exposed once, but a firefighter may be exposed many times over a career. Over time, asbestos exposure may lead to serious health problems including Mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, a progressive scarring disease of the lungs.

What the Research Shows

A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study followed 29,993 career firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia who were employed from 1950 onward, tracking them through 2009. It found about twice the expected number of mesothelioma cases compared with the general U.S. population (35 cases, standardized incidence ratio 2.29). It was the first study to report excess mesothelioma among U.S. firefighters, a finding the authors called noteworthy because asbestos exposure is a known hazard of firefighting [Daniels et al., 2014].

In June 2022 a working group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), with sufficient evidence for mesothelioma and bladder cancer. Firefighting had been classified as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) since 2007 [International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2022].

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (mez-uh-thee-lee-O-muh) is a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen [National Cancer Institute, 2021]. The malignant type of Mesothelioma is a serious diagnosis - patients have a median survival of about 1 year from the time it is found [Mazurek et al., 2017]. Exposure to asbestos causes most cases, and 2,669 new cases were reported in the United States in 2022 [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025].

The disease develops slowly. The time from first exposure to diagnosis typically ranges from 20 to 40 years, and 45,221 mesothelioma deaths were recorded in the United States from 1999 through 2015 [Mazurek et al., 2017]. Symptoms can include trouble breathing, cough, pain under the rib cage, pain or swelling in the abdomen, weight loss for no known reason and fatigue [National Cancer Institute, 2025]. These symptoms have many other causes, so they need to be assessed by a doctor.

How Firefighters Are Exposed to Asbestos

Asbestos is released by the fire itself or as the structure of the building fails. In the initial stages of fighting a fire, heat, water and falling debris can break apart materials that contain asbestos so that fibers are released into the air. When the fibers are breathed in, they may get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time, where they can cause scarring and inflammation [National Cancer Institute, 2021]. A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) protects the airway only while it is being worn.

In the later stages, known as overhaul, crews open walls and ceilings and turn over debris to find hidden fire. Some firefighters remove their breathing apparatus at this point because it is heavy, hot and uncomfortable. The danger is that the remaining debris may still contain asbestos and may release it when disturbed.

Exposure can also happen away from the fire scene. Some older fire stations have pipes and fixtures that were insulated with asbestos compounds. Contaminated gear is another route - there is some evidence that family members of heavily exposed workers face an increased risk of mesothelioma from fibers carried home on shoes, clothing, skin and hair [National Cancer Institute, 2021].

Measures to Stay Protected

There are many measures that firefighters can and do take to reduce asbestos exposure. NIOSH researchers recommend the following [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2017]:

• Wear SCBA sooner and longer than past practice, and use approved respiratory protection during all phases of firefighting, including overhaul.
• Remove contaminated protective clothing as soon as possible, and consider gross decontamination at the fire scene.
• Keep a second set of bunker gear so that used gear can be washed after each fire.
• Shower as soon as you return to the station and change your clothes before going home so the substances do not follow.

Do not dry sweep dust that may contain asbestos or blow it off with compressed air. Federal workplace rules for asbestos restrict both practices in favor of vacuuming and wet cleaning [Occupational Safety and Health Administration, n.d.].

Quit Smoking

Another protective measure is to quit smoking. Cigarette smoking alone may cause lung cancer, and asbestos exposure alone may cause lung cancer. In people exposed to both, the lung cancer risk is greater than the two individual risks added together. Smoking combined with asbestos exposure does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma, but quitting is still wise in an occupation where asbestos exposure is repeated and often close-up [National Cancer Institute, 2021].

Health Monitoring for Active and Retired Firefighters

Because mesothelioma appears decades after exposure, many of the people affected are retired firefighters and seniors. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should tell their doctor about that history, whether or not they have symptoms [National Cancer Institute, 2021]. Caregivers and family members can help by making sure a past career in the fire service is mentioned at medical appointments.

The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, created under the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018, opened for voluntary enrollment in April 2023 [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023]. It is open to all U.S. firefighters - career or volunteer, active or retired, with or without a cancer diagnosis - and more than 40,000 had joined by February 2026 [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026].

This is general information, not medical advice - anyone concerned about past asbestos exposure should speak with a qualified health professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are federal firefighters with mesothelioma covered by a workers compensation presumption?

Yes. Section 5305 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, signed on December 23, 2022, lists mesothelioma among the conditions presumed to be work related for federal firefighters. The firefighter must have spent at least 5 years in fire protection activities and be diagnosed within 10 years of the last exposure. State and local firefighters come under separate state laws that vary, so it is best to check with a workers compensation professional.

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Doctors usually begin with imaging such as a chest x-ray or CT scan and then confirm the diagnosis with a biopsy, in which a sample of tissue or fluid is removed and examined in a laboratory. Biopsy methods listed by the National Cancer Institute include fine-needle aspiration, thoracoscopy, peritoneoscopy and open biopsy.

What treatments are used for mesothelioma?

The National Cancer Institute lists surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy as the main types of treatment. In October 2020 the FDA approved nivolumab with ipilimumab as a first-line treatment for adults with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, after a trial in which median overall survival was 18.1 months compared with 14.1 months for chemotherapy. Treatment depends on the individual and is decided with an oncology team.

What is the OSHA legal limit for asbestos in workplace air?

The OSHA general industry standard limits airborne asbestos to 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with an excursion limit of 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter averaged over 30 minutes. These are legal limits for employers and not a level below which exposure is known to be harmless.

Does asbestos cause cancers other than mesothelioma and lung cancer?

Yes. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there is sufficient evidence that asbestos also causes cancers of the larynx and ovary, and limited evidence linking it to cancers of the stomach, pharynx and colorectum.

Which other cancers have been linked to working as a firefighter?

Besides mesothelioma and bladder cancer, the International Agency for Research on Cancer found limited evidence in 2022 linking firefighting to colon cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, melanoma of the skin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Limited evidence means a link has been observed but is not considered conclusive.

Can a short exposure to asbestos cause mesothelioma?

It can. OSHA notes that asbestos exposures lasting as little as a few days have caused mesothelioma in humans. Not everyone who is exposed becomes ill, but no exposure should be treated as harmless.

Is asbestos in an older home dangerous if it is not damaged?

According to the EPA, asbestos-containing materials that are not damaged or disturbed are not likely to pose a health risk. The agency advises leaving undamaged material alone, not sawing, sanding, scraping or drilling it, and having removal or major repairs done by people trained and qualified in handling asbestos.

References:

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2001). ToxFAQs for asbestos. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). NIOSH launches the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer to understand and reduce cancer in the fire service [Press release].
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Incidence of malignant mesothelioma. U.S. Cancer Statistics.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). CDC's National Firefighter Registry for Cancer is now the largest in the nation [Press release].
• Daniels, R. D., Kubale, T. L., Yiin, J. H., Dahm, M. M., Hales, T. R., Baris, D., Zahm, S. H., Beaumont, J. J., Waters, K. M., and Pinkerton, L. E. (2014). Mortality and cancer incidence in a pooled cohort of US firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia (1950 - 2009). Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 71(6), 388 - 397.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2022). IARC Monographs evaluation of the carcinogenicity of occupational exposure as a firefighter: Questions and answers. World Health Organization.
• Mazurek, J. M., Syamlal, G., Wood, J. M., Hendricks, S. A., and Weston, A. (2017). Malignant mesothelioma mortality - United States, 1999 - 2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 66(8), 214 - 218.
• National Cancer Institute. (2021). Asbestos exposure and cancer risk fact sheet.
• National Cancer Institute. (2025). Mesothelioma symptoms.
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2017). Is there a link between firefighting and cancer? - Epidemiology in action. NIOSH Science Blog.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Asbestos (Standard No. 1910.1001). Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Biden-Harris Administration finalizes ban on ongoing uses of asbestos to protect people from cancer [Press release].
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Learn about asbestos.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Mesothelioma is a disease of long memory - the fibers a firefighter breathed in during the 1980s or 1990s may only now be causing illness, which helps explain why 45,221 Americans died of it between 1999 and 2015. For the fire service the lesson is practical: breathing apparatus that stays on through overhaul, gear that is cleaned at the scene and a shower back at the station all cut the dose, and they also protect families from fibers carried home on clothing. Retired firefighters and their caregivers should make sure doctors know about a fire service career, and those who smoke have added reason to stop because smoking and asbestos together raise lung cancer risk more than either does alone. With more than 40,000 firefighters now enrolled in the national cancer registry, the evidence base for prevention and for fair recognition of occupational cancer will continue to grow.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.