THE lone survivor of a cancer cluster at Atherton Fire Station fears the cause will never be uncovered, despite an investigation finding the rate of brain tumours was up to 62 times higher than the state average.
Queensland Health yesterday confirmed a cancer cluster at the Tableland station and announced a statewide probe to examine any link between firefighting and cancer.
Three people at the station have been diagnosed with the rare cancer in 15 years, a rate of brain cancer 21 to 62 times higher than the rest of Queensland.
But the detailed investigation was unable to link any single factor or exposure to specific radiation or chemicals to five confirmed cases of cancer within the station, including three of brain cancer.
Atherton firefighter Garry Marsh, 53, defied the odds to beat brain cancer nearly four years ago.
Two of his colleagues lost their lives to the disease.
The State Government will launch further environmental testing at the Atherton station, but Mr Marsh said their varied firefighting careers could make it almost impossible to pinpoint a common cause.
"The primary thing they were looking for is radiation since a particular type of radiation is what commonly leads to brain tumours," he said.
"I have been in the brigade 20 years and I can’t think of a radiation area I have been associated with."
The Queensland Health report noted that the three men had served between two years and 10 years at the station.
But the first victim died in 1992, before the other two firefighters started at Atherton.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service deputy commissioner Iain MacKenzie met the Atherton firies and their families on Saturday to discuss the report.
"Three cases of brain cancer at Atherton Fire Station do fit the definition of a cancer cluster," Mr Roberts told The Cairns Post yesterday.
"However, this does not mean that the cause of the cancer is at Atherton Fire Station. None of the hazards which were identified at Atherton Fire Station have any direct link to the cancer cluster."
The report examined hazards including pesticides used to eradicate termites at a house where all three men had resided, at a breathing apparatus training facility and exhaust emissions from firetrucks.
Mr Roberts said all nine recommendations arising from the report would be implemented, including statewide research into the brain cancer rate among firies and a wider study to examine any link between firefighting and cancer.
Further environmental testing at Atherton station will begin within 10 days and the investigation will be reopened if more cancer cases occur among Atherton firefighters.
