Textile science researchers lead statewide effort to reduce cancer risk for firefighters

Ames, Iowa – As modern fires grow more chemically complex, firefighters face increased exposure to hazardous contaminants that can raise their risk of cancer long after a fire is extinguished.

Drawing on expertise in protective textiles and personal protective equipment, Iowa State researchers in the Department of Apparel, Events and Hospitality Management are leading a statewide effort to better understand those hidden hazards and develop practical solutions that help reduce exposure and improve firefighter health outcomes.

A look inside the research – how textile science improves health outcomes