NJ Lawmakers Unveil Bill Protecting Firefighter Health
CLIFTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and Congressman Bill Pascrell have unveiled legislation, calling for federal funding to study the health of firefighters.
The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act would monitor the relationship between career-long exposure to dangerous fumes and toxins that voluntary and paid firefighters face on a daily basis all over the country.
"This specialized cancer registry will provide scientists and medical professionals with detailed national data that will allow researchers to understand the broader cancer trends among firefighters," Pascrell said.
The measure will also develop more sophisticated safety protocols and improve prevention techniques.
"There's been little attention paid to a firefighter's routine and daily exposure to dangerous toxins over the course of their entire career," Menendez said. "We need not wait for a firefighter to die in order to honor them."
A new study finds firefighters have a 14 percent increased risk of dying from cancer compared to the general population.
