June 14, 2006 - Utah
The Utah
Labor Commission has taken a step toward finding out if firefighters and
police officers with cancer and other ailments developed the diseases
because of hazards associated with their jobs. If the study proves the
suspected link, affected public safety officers would be eligible for
workers compensation benefits if they develop a disease involved in the
study.
There is no
empirical evidence at this point to prove the cause and effect. But, the
chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs' safety, health
and survival section says, "Too many folks are dying on the job and from
it. We can't prove it yet, but we have anecdotes everywhere suggesting
firefighters are getting cancer at higher rates than the general
population."
In
Utah, 84 current and former law enforcers who all were exposed to Meth
labs during the course of their careers became sick or died. One former
narcotics officer had a kidney, gallbladder and a rib removed after he was
diagnosed with cancer. He believes his cancer was contracted through
years of walking unsuspectingly into homes contaminated with chemicals
from Meth production. He knew something wasn't right when he'd look at
his clothes the morning following a bust and find the chemicals had left
his shirt in ribbons and were eating his shoes.
READ FULL STORY FROM Deseret Morning News |
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