Wildland firefighters are exposed to multiple carcinogens including but not limited to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), formaldehyde and benzene in smoke from wildland and wildland-urban-interface (WUI) fires. In addition to smoke inhalation, wildland firefighters are exposed to carcinogens absorbed through their skin.

Cancer is a leading cause of fire service morbidity and mortality in municipal firefighters, but it has not been possible to conduct an adequately sized epidemiologic study to directly measure cancer rates in wildland firefighters, although based on their exposures we expect increased cancer rates. Since cancer has a long latency period between exposure and disease onset, measurements are needed now that can identify which exposures are causing carcinogenic effects and that can also determine the effectiveness of new interventions on a much shorter time interval.