Battling flames 'massively increases firefighters' exposure to cancer-causing carcinogens'

Firefighters can have more than five times as many cancer causing chemicals in their bodies after tackling a blaze, warns new research.

The toxic chemicals more than quadruple the potential for DNA damage that triggers cancer, according to the study.

And the chemicals get in through their skin - rather than inhalation -meaning firefighters may need to get a decontaminating wash down as soon as they return from a job.