The Inside-Out Tool the Firefighting Community Needs

Cancer accounts for 2 out of every 3 job-related firefighter deaths. Broc Shot’s donation program helps firefighters reduce their toxicity-related cancer risk with sulforaphane.

Jolene Hart

Author & Editor

Tony Stefani

President of the SFFCPF

 INTRO FAQ

Burns, smoke inhalation, the unpredictability of a raging fire— the immediate threats that firefighters face on the job are well-known to the general public. But a much more insidious danger, one that accounts for a staggering 2 out of every 3 job-related firefighter deaths, still escapes our notice: cancer.

Driven by toxic exposures during and after a fire, cancer impacts firefighters at an alarmingly high rate. It’s a story that Tony Stefani, retired San Francisco Fire Department Captain and President of the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation, knows all too well. “We’ve been told that in the firefighting profession right now, up to 65% of men and women will contract some form of cancer in their lifetime. That is off the charts,” says Stefani, a survivor of bladder cancer caused by exposures on the job.

Stefani took on a legal battle that required him to document decades of toxic exposures to prove the link between his cancer and his firefighting duties. His efforts helped pave the way for a cancer presumptive labor law in San Francisco that can cover cancer treatment for firefighters.

Tony Stefani | Igniting Hope Gala 2024 

 WATCH + LEARN

MODERN FIRES, MODERN TOXICITY

Although toxins are present all around us, firefighters receive extreme, concentrated exposures to everyday items, like furniture and building materials, that off-gas carcinogenic chemicals like PBDE flame retardants during a fire, in addition to their working proximity to toxic smoke and carbon monoxide. “There are hundreds of toxins at every working fire. But the greatest exposures exist after a fire has been knocked down and firefighters are working inside. That’s when fires off-gas a ton of toxic chemicals,” Stefani says. Although Interior Attack Chiefs have combustion gas indicators, they lack the capability to monitor all toxic chemicals, Stefani explains.

The result has been firefighters’ frequent and unwitting exposures to toxic compounds over years or decades of service. Incredibly, firefighters have also been receiving ongoing toxin exposure through their PFAS-coated personal protective equipment (PPE). PFAS chemicals, known as ‘forever’ chemicals, are now implemented in cancer development. “PFAS chemicals are on the inner lining of our PPE. We’re just now at the point where we're convincing companies to remove these toxins,” says Stefani.

Sulforaphane for firefighter protection

After the World Health Organization moved to reclassify firefighting as a highest-risk cancer-causing profession in 2022, Broc Shot responded. Founders Gracia Walker and Benjamin Silver knew they had a powerfully protective tool that could support firefighter health in Broc Shot’s concentrated dose of sulforaphane.

The detoxification support that sulforaphane provides has been well-documented in clinical research over the last decade, and research continues. A Johns Hopkins-led study(1) found that sulforaphane significantly raised the excretion rate of the airborne toxins benzene and acrolein that are present at fires.

Another study documented sulforaphane’s ability to block tumor formation(2) after carcinogen exposure. Yet another calls sulforaphane “an emergent anticancer stem cell agent”(3) with additional potential to work alongside conventional treatments to prevent cancer recurrence. Walker and Silver saw their unique position to both educate and support the health of firefighters from within, with sulforaphane. With Stefani’s help, Broc Shot’s Firefighter Protection Program was born, establishing a one-to-one donation program that contributes one Broc Shot to a firefighter for every Broc Shot sold.

THE TAKEAWAY

Sulforaphane is just one tool in an expanding effort to better protect the lives of firefighters— an effort that begins with awareness. “Don't get me wrong, we do need chemicals, but we have 80,000 unregulated chemicals that have never been proven to be safe. And we're faced with that. You're faced with that. Our families are faced with that.

The more information we can disseminate to the firefighting profession about this major problem points us in the right direction,” says Stefani. He’s hopeful that a tool like Broc Shot will lead into a greater focus on nutrition and health for his colleagues. “Sulforaphane is extremely important because it's not only a nutraceutical; it opens the door for firefighters to think about their overall diet.”

Every Broc Shot purchased equals one donated to a firefighter, offering them a powerful tool to help detoxify and defend their bodies while in the line of duty. Join us to help support the health of a local hero.

 REVIEWS

BRIAN W | Verified Buyer

"I'm in the best shape of my life. I never take supplements but this has changed the game. 221 days in and will not miss a day."

JOYCE A | VERIFIED BUYER

"Feel amazing. Started this two months ago. I used to get sick or really bad allergies and sinus headaches once or twice a month. Knock on wood I have been completely healthy the last couple of months which is strange considering this is peak allergy season for me normally. Skin looks great. Great improvement even with digestion!"

JILL M | VERIFIED BUYER 

"When its 3pm (worked a full day) and your still memory sharp you know it works!!!"

NHUNG P | VERIFIED BUYER

I have been committed for the past week and noticed less bloat. My period is starting soon so we will see if I notice an improvement with my usual symptoms. I plan to stay committed for a couple months to see if it makes a big difference.

KYLEA P | VERIFIED BUYER

"After about 2 or 3 weeks of broc shot I've noticed a big difference in the clarity of skin, decreased mental fog, more energy, and less mood swings. I'm excited to experience more changes after prolonged use and will continue to purchase."

SHANALEE G | VERIFIED BUYER

"I’ve had digestive issues for 4 months and this is the only thing that has helped."

LOGAN W | VERIFIED BUYER

I am one week in and already feel less bloated and energized!

JOE G | VERIFIED BUYER

It really balances me out. I just feel better when I take it. I've been enjoying the benefits since January. 2 times I took a week long break and within a few days each time I could tell

SHUYUN T | VERIFIED BUYER

This is the energy boost I have been looking for to replace coffee. Great taste too, although I wish there was a sampler set with all three flavors.

SHARON A | VERIFIED BUYER

I've been using the Broc Shot daily for a few months now and the changes to my skin are noticeable. The extra shine is definitely noticeable. In addition, I feel like my energy levels and daily focus has improved.

ANNE W | VERIFIED BUYER

This was a great start for my wellness journey - I noticed a difference right away within the first 3 days: more energy and mental clarity, within a week I saw clearer skin and more regulated digestion patterns. I am pretty sure my nails have grown quicker than usual as well :)

MISSY G | VERIFIED BUYER

I love it, I love knowing I am getting a potent dose of broc sprouts daily. it is quick and easy and my skin is looking brighter. I do crossfit and have not been taking any pre workout or even coffee in the am anymore.

SOURCES

1. https://time.com/2891178/broccoli-sprout-beverage-can-detoxify-pollutants/

2. https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.91.8.3147

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9909961/