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 The fire suits, or “turnout coats,” being tested came from a fire department in Ft. Thomas, Ky. The father of a biology senior involved in the research at UK, Jerrod Dempsey, is a doctor in Ft. Thomas; some of his patients are firefighters.Dempsey and other members of the research team became interested in the research when they learned that the morbidity rate for retired firefighters from heart and respiratory disease as well as cancer is much higher than for persons in other occupations. Their research so far has shown that the three barriers in the suits, including the moisture barriers closest to the firemen’s skin, are equally contaminated with “a wide range of problematic chemicals. As they build up they will be very dangerous to firemen,” said Dempsey, who wants to go on to dental school after he graduates next year. |