The Australian Medical Association is calling for more research into a potential cancer cluster at Success fire station in Perth, after four firefighters were diagnosed with kidney cancer in six years.
The first Success firefighter to be diagnosed with the disease died five years ago.
When two more were given the same diagnosis, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) began screening the firefighters, which led to a fourth case being diagnosed last week.
The department has now temporarily relocated the station’s 24 firefighters to Hope Valley while tests are conducted.
AMA state president Dr Michael Gannon said it was difficult to know what had caused the cancers or whether it was a cluster.
“They [clusters] are very very difficult to confirm and to pinpoint but it does seem compelling, I mean four cases in a row,” Dr Gannon said.
“There is the possibility that there is a specific danger at this station.
“That’s less likely but I think the department has done the right thing while they do further investigation.”
He said it was possible exposure to chemicals in the course of their work may have caused the disease in the firefighters, but further study was needed.
“They work in exposure to some very unusual environments,” Dr Gannon said.
“They’re potentially exposed to some very nasty chemicals and to some potential carcinogens, but it’s not as if it’s a well known problem.”
“It’s certainly conceivable [that it was caused by chemicals] but based on the exposures they have to chemicals that have their structure changed under intense heat, it would be something that might be very difficult to prove.
“Obviously it has implications for the way these brave men and women work, but certainly we need more research to look into the area.”
DFES said an independent contractor would conduct environmental testing of Success fire station to determine if there were any possible exposure sources on site.
Sampling of the site was due to start this week.
Voluntary health screening has been offered to the station’s past and present firefighters.