Around 12 firefighters who battled the deadly Grenfell Tower inferno have reportedly been diagnosed with rare cancers after experiencing high levels of exposure to contaminants during the rescue effort.
Experts are said to fear there could end up being more than 20 cases linked the west London blaze in June 2017, which killed 72 residents.
According to a Mirror investigation, the majority of the diseases diagnosed among crews are understood to be digestive cancers and leukaemia, for which there is no cure.
Grenfell was one of the worst disasters in UK modern history. The youngest victim was six-month-old Leena Belkadi, who died in her mother’s arms as she tried to flee the 24-storey block.
As some cancers can take up to 25 years to appear, both firefighters and survivors have been called in for health screenings.
David Badillo, the first firefighter to enter the tower, said: “I’ve got two young kids and I want to see them grow up.
“I’ve been scanned and nothing has come up but you don’t know what could happen in the future.”
Analysis of soil, debris and charred samples of insulation boards used on the tower revealed heightened concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals.
During the blaze, firefighters were forced to wait in the block’s smoke-logged basement for up to six hours.
Many others stayed in their contaminated suits for more than ten hours.
Research by the Fire Brigades Union and the University of Central Lancashire found crews are twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer if they remain in their personal protective equipment for more than four hours after a fire.
They are also at least twice as likely to be diagnosed if they notice soot in their nose or throat.
The newspaper spoke to one firefighter, in his 50s, who said Grenfell left him suicidal and suffering from scarred lungs.
He said: “We were breathing all the toxins for ages. I’ve heard loads of people have been sick with the ‘Grenfell cough’.”
He has failed several medicals since the blaze because of his poor lung function and now needs inhalers.
Riccardo la Torre, of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “Firefighters must be able to attend any incident without the anxiety of a cancer diagnosis looming over them afterwards. It is time that the government and fire service employers take this seriously.
“We need to see urgent action now by way of prevention, health monitoring and medical and financial support in the memory of every firefighter who has suffered from these terrible diseases.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Our firefighters must be as safe as possible when doing their jobs and we are currently involved in two studies to investigate the possible impact of contaminants on health, including one directly linked to the Grenfell Tower fire.
“All firefighters and officers who attended Grenfell have been invited to take part in the research project, which carefully monitors their health even after they retire or leave the service. Staff also have access to our occupational health service to support them through periods of ill health.”
