Key facts
- Firefighters are using glutathione, an antioxidant, to treat symptoms like chronic cough, headache, and fatigue after battling wildfires.
- The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has warned about glutathione due to potential contaminants and a lack of scientific research on its safety and efficacy.
- Some firefighters report feeling better after glutathione treatment, while others have experienced adverse effects.
- Volunteer naturopaths have been offering glutathione treatments at major wildfires since 2017.
- Firefighters have a 14% increased risk of dying from cancer compared to the general population.
Firefighters battling wildfires are increasingly turning to glutathione, an antioxidant naturally produced in the body, to alleviate symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and chronic cough experienced after exposure to toxic smoke. Pasadena Fire Captain David Marquez, a 25-year veteran, testified that he felt significantly better immediately after inhaling glutathione following the destructive Eaton Fire in California.
However, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), representing over 360,000 firefighters across the US and Canada, has issued a rare warning about the treatment. Sean DeCrane, assistant to the IAFF's general president for health and safety, expressed concerns over the lack of research into glutathione's efficacy and long-term effects, noting that some members have reported feeling unwell after treatment. The union also highlighted recent recalls of compounding pharmacies due to contaminants in glutathione supplies.
Volunteer naturopaths, organized under the Integrated Health Action Network (IHAN), have been providing glutathione and other naturopathic treatments at major wildfires since 2017. IHAN co-founder Jen Riegle stated that their collected data, though anecdotal and not from clinical trials, shows clinically meaningful improvements in common firefighter symptoms. IHAN has offered to collaborate with researchers to prove the treatment's effectiveness.
Firefighters face a 14% increased risk of dying from cancer compared to the general population due to their occupational exposure to carcinogens. While interest in alternative treatments like glutathione has grown, Dr. Coralynn Sack, an occupational pulmonologist at the University of Washington, noted that the existing data is underwhelming and that such treatments may shift focus away from proven protective measures like proper personal protective equipment.