The first two stories (below)
make me wonder if exposure to electro magnetic radiation may be
harming these firefighters? Is EMR from their communications
system harming them? Are there cell phone antennas and
communications antennas on or near their fire halls?
The third story, mentions
the Brisbane ABC studio cancer cluster, where electro magnetic
radiation is a strong suspect. Why is the
Queensland Government obstructing scientists from investigating
the cause of cancer? Is there a sinister reason? Do
they suspect EMR as the cancer cause?
A few weeks ago I sent
information about EMR and its links to cancer and ill health, to the
Queensland Firefighters Union. They did not bother to reply!
While I am well aware of the dangers of toxic smoke at fire scenes,
EMR should also be considered. Any intelligent
investigation of these cancers must involve exposure to electro
magnetic radiation as a strong suspect!
Martin
Cancer
scare strikes our firefighters
April
16, 2008
Six serving and retired
firefighters have been reported as suffering from cancer.
SIX Toowoomba firefighters are
part of the growing number of Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
staff battling cancer.
The figures were revealed
yesterday as a statewide investigation was launched into brain
cancer clusters in fire stations.
The United Firefighters Union
(UFU) announced that six active or retired Toowoomba firefighters
were among 34 in the state battling cancer.
Two cases of testicular cancer,
one case of prostate cancer and three other cancer-related illnesses
in Toowoomba have been reported to the union.
UFU Queensland president Henry
Lawrence said he had received information from the Toowoomba region
confirming a number of firefighters were suffering with cancer.
Mr Lawrence said he was first
notified after he made a call to Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
(QFRS) committees to identify firefighters suffering from the
disease.
He said Toowoomba's cases could
not be identified as a "cluster" due to the varying types
of cancer, but added there was increasing support for action as
numbers of cancer-related illnesses amongst QFRS staff continued to
grow.
"We can't attach any
significance to their occupations without comparative analysis of
the general area and environmental studies," Mr Lawrence said.
"Nonetheless, as numbers
continue to grow, there is certainly some support for there being a
link between the two."
Attempts by The Chronicle to
speak to the city's key figures from the Queensland Fire and Rescue
Service were redirected to the Emergency Services Minister's office.
Sources did confirm that the
Toowoomba incidents of cancer had hit its firefighting community
hard.
The revelation of cancer-related
illnesses amongst firefighters follows the discovery of a cancer
cluster at Atherton fire station in Queensland's far north last
December.
QFRS Deputy Commissioner Iain
Mackenzie, in a statement to The Chronicle, said he was unaware of
the number of firefighters battling cancer in Toowoomba or in other
parts of the state outside Atherton.
Mr Mackenzie said accurate
figures would come from a cross-referencing of firefighters with the
Cancer Registry and not any statewide tests on Queensland
firefighters as reported in metropolitan newspapers.
Minister for Emergency Services
Neil Roberts yesterday proposed a national study into the incidence
of cancer among firefighters.
Mr Lawrence said it was unclear
as to why the job of firefighting was linked with cancer, but
suggested required safety clothing might make them susceptible.
FIREFIGHTERS across
Queensland have identified at least 18 more cancer cases in two
regions just a day after a statewide investigation was opened into
brain cancer clusters in fire stations.
In Toowoomba and the North Coast
region, officers yesterday detailed a host of cancer-related
illnesses and deaths including brain tumours, throat cancer and
testicular cancer.
Eight brain cancer, four
prostate, three testicular, one bowel, one leukemia and 12 other
various kinds of cancer cases have been reported to the union,
taking the statewide total of known firefighter cancer cases –
including the five in Atherton – to 34.
United Firefighters Union
president Henry Lawrence asked his members to provide anecdotal
evidence of all serving and retiring firefighters across the state
to battle cancer.
"At this stage there is no
definitive cause but the higher incidence leads us to believe there
must be some link to the business of firefighting," Mr
Lawrence said.
On Sunday, the Government
ordered health authorities to test every firefighter in the state
for brain cancer after a cancer cluster was confirmed at Atherton
fire station in the state's far north.
Tests will involve checking the
medical records of serving and retired firefighters against the
Queensland Cancer Registry to try to identify other possible
clusters.
The Atherton fire station study
found the rate of brain cancer among staff was between 21 and 62
times higher than the Queensland average.
Brain cancer is most commonly
linked to exposure to nuclear decay or ionising radiation.
Mr Lawrence welcomed the widened
statewide investigation into the incidence of brain cancer.
He said there were fears, backed
up by international studies, that firefighters could be exposed to
Thanks for this, Martin: I have reported in the past that radiology
techs in our area are saying they are seeing lots of brain cancer
lately. She did not provide any information as to occupation or any
suspect exposure. However, one contact who is a healthworker in a
local nursing home indicated they are seeing lots of brain cancer in
policemen.
I will be taking up the issue of currents on gas meter service pipes
soon and will hand-deliver a copy of your email and the articles to
the firemen at our fire station near oiur house and along the same
high voltage lines as those that are too close to our house.
HIgh on my list of suspects re the firemen (and also police) would be
the radios they carry on their shoulders as well as probable excessive
cell phone usage. I think our firefighters do have landline phones in
their offices but suspect they make their phone calls from recliner
chairs and beds, etc. for comfort as well as privacy.
Re prostrate and testicular cancer, a major concern, in my opinion,
would be the probability of carrying cell phones in pants' pockets.
Since large numbers of the general population are reporting they
actually sleep on top of cell phones, that, of course, is another
major concern if firefighters are doing the same.
I know even the Chief of Police for a nearby suburb has or had a
police radio, a cordless phone and transformer, an electric clock and
cell phone charging on his nightstand.
I would think the military might also be experiencing similar
increases in the same types of cancer. Take care - Joanne
Joanne C. Mueller
Guinea Pigs "R" Us
731 - 123rd Avenue N.W.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55448-2127 USA
Phone: 763-755-6114
Email: jcmpeli...@aol.com (4-18-08)
As a former firefighter, I can tell you that in my experience nothing
that firefighters were exposed to "In the past" would yield higher
cancer rates. I was a firefighter for 7 years, the equipment they use
virtually guarantees no fumes are inhaled. It's even not a very
stressful job to be honest, more like you just know what to do, when
to do it, and how to do it.
I believe this may be a factor relating to EMF. These days
firefighters carry around tremendous electronic gear, high powered
radios, cell phones, wireless location finders, and more. Most fire
stations have dozens of radios plugged in and/or charging at the same
time, and these are MUCH more powerful than the stuff we used to use.
All stations that I know of have WiFi in them, as well as specific GPS
related gear, and some high powered equipment for finding people in
smoke filled situations. Firefighters are exposed to a *LOT* of EMF
that they weren't exposed to just 15-20 years ago. Years ago our gear
was basic, the only person on site with a radio was the field boss.
Nobody else was carrying anything remotely electronic. Rigs, and
stations had pretty low powered, lower range basic radio equipment.
Who knows really, maybe there is some "Chemical" in their new suits.
Our old stuff was just canvas sprayed with a non-toxic fire retardant.
These days who knows, they probably have entirely different suits and
other junk. So tough to say really. I wouldn't be surprised if Cops
didn't start showing signs of increased cancer, you look inside a cop
car these days and it looks like the cockpit of a Tie-Fighter from
Star Wars, then add in the 1-2+ cell phones each officer carries, etc.
I want to remind people that Joe Foster, a Vancouver BC firefighter,
gave an excellent presentation on this subject at the 2006 ICEMS
Workshop in Italy. Joe introduced the resolution that was adopted by
the International Firefighters Association in 2004, I believe it was,
calling for removal of commercial antennas on firehouses. His power
point presentation and abstract of his talk can be found on the ICEMS
website under 5th ICEMS Worshop, under his name in the last session on
the program. http://www.icems.eu .
Is the additional revenue from renting out the roof worth the risk of
exposure to firefighters who need to get restful sleep and and produce
sufficient levels of melatonin like everyone else? Who is monitoring
exposures to ensure safe levels are adhered to in general for these
public safety workers? Why don't we show more compassion for our first
responders lin gratitude for what they do in service to the rest of us
As I said, I am a bit behind on latest firefighter trends, but I
recently visted a firehouse with my sons Cub Scouts. Where I discussed
current firefighting with the guys there. TONS of electronics. Since
those men sleep under those conditions, it makes sense their exposure
would effect them long term. I believe they still work 48 hours in a
row, 48 hours off type of thing.
I don't know if you've seen the piece on my website about US
firefighters, posted August 2004. I think you (and the Aussie Fire
Service) would find it very interesting.
I started a dialogue with the Vancouver firefighters about EMR risks
back in 1997. Gradually their health and safety people got involved
and concern gained momentum. For a year or two I worked with Joe
Foster to raise awareness among union members, management and city
hall. The two fire halls in Vancouver that have transmitters on their
hose towers were measured and the readings were predictably below
"safety regulations". Dozens of published studies showing readings
lower than those shown on the tests were brought up as concerns. This
is particularly concerning because these first responders sleep in
dormitories on the top floor, with shifts of 4 days on and 4 days off.
Their social room was also on the same floor. The city brought in
their "expert" who, while he admitted knowing nothing about these
health effects, proclaimed the situation to be safe.
After Joe made his tremendous presentation in Boston and the IAFF
passed the resolution for a moratorium on fire hall cell towers, the
city of Vancouver allowed more transmitters to be erected on Hall No.
5. They were quoted as saying, "Yes, that's your resolution, but it's
our fire hall", confirming once again how loud money talks. City hall
got the rent and first responders got the risk.
A couple of years ago, Magda Havas and I took measurements at a fire
hall in nearby Richmond, which had a 30 foot transmitter on the roof.
The measurements there were similar to those in the Vancouver halls.
Also, the readings at head level in the fire trucks was very high from
all of the communications equipment aboard.
It may be of interest to readers that the British Columbia government
passed legislation in October 2005 recognizing 7 cancers as
occupational hazards for firefighters. These are brain, bladder,
ureter, kidney, and colorectal cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and
leukemia. This presumptive legislation means that the firefighter or
his family can be compensated for a disease that is work related,
rather than having to prove each case separately.
Interestingly, Joe was attacked constantly from all quarters for his
brave stand and is no longer a vice president of the union. This just
proves the old adage that no good deed, no matter how small, goes
unpunished.
