Asbestos mesothelioma risk is a serious problem across the country.

Now, San Antonio firefighters may be facing an increasedasbestos mesothelioma risk and elevated mortality rates.

As of June, two San Antonio firefighters have been lost to cancer already in 2016.

One of the firefighters, diagnosed with leukemia, was only 43 when he died. The Fire Chief has since referred to the disease these two firefighters fought against as “occupational cancer.”

Indeed, eighteen San Antonio firefighters who have been diagnosed with cancer have open worker’s compensation claims with the city.

The city claims that San Antonio firefighters have similar cancer rates to both police and civilian city employees.

However, national studies performed on a large scale show a clear link between exposure to diesel fumes and burning chemicals and certain cancers.

A study from the University of Cincinnati found a link between exposure to diesel fumes and burning chemicals and several cancers: multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.

According to a study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, firefighters have more than double the asbestos mesothelioma risk of people in other occupations. The study looked at over 30,000 firefighters working between 1950 and 2010.

A San Antonio oncologist, Dr. Steve Kalter, called the correlation between firefighting and asbestos mesothelioma risk too strong to ignore.

“They call it dying with your boots off,” said Dr. Kalter. “Sixty percent of firefighters die from malignancy.”

The Firefighter Cancer Support Network says that asbestos exposure is often easily preventable, given the right equipment.

San Antonio firefighters, according to the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, are generally given one or two firefighting uniforms, which can only be cleaned using a powerful machine.

Because of these complications, firefighters can go weeks to months with firefighting uniforms blackened from their work. These uniforms can be covered in asbestos and other dangerous chemicals.

The city plans to include money in its budget for new firefighting uniforms that will help minimize exposure to these dangerous chemicals and asbestos mesothelioma risk through dirty uniforms.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Risk

A growing number of people who have been exposed to asbestos in the past, especially those who have been exposed through their work, like firefighters, are beginning to face cancer diagnoses.

Asbestos cancer is a generally latent disease, which can lie dormant for years before showing significant symptoms. Unfortunately, asbestos cancer is life-threatening.

Asbestos mesothelioma risk often affects construction workers, due to their exposure in buildings, materials, and equipment that may contain asbestos. Firefighters and others can also face an increased asbestos mesothelioma risk,

Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos may have an increased asbestos mesothelioma risk. The risk is more likely if exposure is constant, such as from a building in which they work, study, or live in.

Filing an Asbestos Cancer Lawsuit

While filing an asbestos cancer lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of someone diagnosed with cancer, or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to compensate for financial expenses from medical bills and lost wages.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after asbestos exposure, you may be able to file an asbestos  lawsuit.