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D E T O X E - G U I D E A N D P R O T O C O L F O R F I R E F I G H T E R S

Increased Exposure to Toxins

Toxicity can be viewed as a harmful biochemical environment in the body that results from living in today’s chemically complex modern world. We are constantly bombarded by external toxins from the air (e.g., industrial off-gassing, vehicle exhaust, solvents, electromagnetic fields), from our food (e.g., pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics), from our water (e.g., chlorine, fluoride, antibiotics, toxic metals, fertilizer and pesticide runoff), from industry (e.g., plastics, binders, propellants), and from our homes (e.g., radon, formaldehyde from carpeting, asbestos, paint solvents, natural gas leakage).

For the general population, problems arise when the rate of accumulation of toxins exceeds the rate of their elimination. Occupational exposure of toxins presents an additional risk to those who are more frequently subjected to these chemical pollutants. It is well-established that firefighters are exposed to toxins on a routine basis when fighting fires and handling contaminated personal protective and firefighting equipment.

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Health Risks of Continuous Exposure to Harmful Chemicals

The incidence of chronic disease is increasing. While some experts say this is because the population is aging, reality is that chronic disease is increasing in all age groups, including young people. Alarmingly, the increased incidence of ill health and chronic disease has coincided with the increase in the concentration and number of toxic compounds in the environment. Exposure to these toxins has consequences. A growing body of research indicates that exposure to toxins is causing metabolic and physiological damage leading to the development of several chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Detoxification is essential in the treatment and prevention of chronic disease.

Several environmental chemicals are associated with an increased risk of developing cancer including PCBs, flame retardants, asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and particulate matter (i.e., smoke inhalation and air pollution). Urine samples collected from firefighters showed a four-fold increase in DNA damage and a 3-5x increase in levels of chemical metabolites after fighting a fire compared to before. Occupational cancer is second only to heart disease as a cause of death in the fire service.

According to research by the CDC/National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general US population. Data from the International Association of Fire Fighters from January 1, 2002 to March 31, 2017 states that cancer has caused 61% of career firefighter line-of-duty deaths. Cancers associated with a higher risk in firefighters include respiratory (lung, mesothelioma), gastrointestinal (colon, esophageal, oral cavity), and kidney. Firefighters also have an elevated risk for specific cancers including testicular cancer (2x greater risk), mesothelioma (2x greater risk), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (1.5x greater risk), malignant melanoma (1.3x greater risk), and brain cancer (1.3x greater risk).

The importance of detoxification for firefighters cannot be overstated. It appears that the hyperthermic effects of infrared are only harmful to malignant cells. Studies have found an 86% reduction in cancerous masses after just 30 days of infrared treatment, and infrared-induced, whole-body hyperthermia strongly inhibits the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. Eliminating these toxins from the body through a natural and effective Sunlighten sauna detox may help reduce risk and prevent future illness.

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Sauna Detox

Detoxification is a continual process, and an individual’s health depends upon their ability to detoxify and eliminate toxins. Our bodies use five different organs to metabolize and eliminate toxins: liver, bowels, kidneys, lungs, and skin. An often-overlooked route of toxicant excretion is via the process of sweating. Induced sweating is a potential method for elimination of many toxic elements from the human body. In fact, sweating is one of the most effective ways to remove toxins. Sauna therapy is based on the concept that toxins are released through the skin via sweat and has been shown to increase the excretion of toxic metals (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) and chemicals (e.g., phthalates, pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants). Sweating, induced by Sunlighten infrared therapy, is effective at mobilizing both persistent and non-persistent toxicants that have been stored in the body. Because of the high concentration of far infrared delivered from Solocarbon heating panels, regular Sunlighten sauna use is associated with several health benefits including stress reduction, lower blood pressure, detoxification, and decreased pain.

Sauna is used to detoxify the body after being exposed to the products of combustion or other hazardous materials.

A small group of 9/11 Trade Center rescue workers who utilized sauna therapy in combination with diet, exercise, and nutritional supplementation achieved a reduction in their serum levels of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), PDCFs, and PCBs.

This same protocol provided symptomatic improvements for a group of firefighters who became ill after responding to an exploded PCB-containing transformer. Immediately following this incident, the firemen began to experience symptoms of extreme fatigue, headache, muscle weakness, arthralgias, memory loss, and reduced concentration.

Compared with firemen from the same department who did not participate in the detoxification program, those who followed 2 to 3 weeks of treatment showed significant improvements on neurological testing for memory, vision, cognition, and motor function.

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Why Sunlighten Far Infrared Saunas?

Far infrared (3,000 nm–1 mm) provides gentle radiant heat that can penetrate up to 1.5 inches (almost 4 cm) beneath the skin. Far infrared waves have a regenerative effect on the body when emitted in the vital range of 7-14 microns. This frequency causes water molecules to vibrate causing a release of cellular toxins. The most efficient and effective detox programs require high levels of far infrared at the correct frequency.

This graph shows the Solocarbon® heater with relation to a per-fect black body. A perfect black body is an infrared emitter that absorbs as much energy as it puts out. The human body (purple line) operates at 9.4 on the scale and you can see the Solocarbon heater (green line) is within 95% of the black body. This means your body will be very receptive to infrared heat being produced by a Solocarbon heater.

It is important to understand that all saunas are not created equally. For infrared therapy to be successful, sauna heaters must have high emissivity levels. Emissivity is the ability of an object to emit or absorb energy. A perfect black body has an emissivity of 1, emitting 100% of infrared energy. An object with an emissivity of 0.6 will absorb 60% and reflect 40% of the energy. Saunas may produce heat, but without high emissivity, they may not provide therapeutic benefit. Sunlighten’s Solocarbon far infrared heaters are clinically proven to be 95-99% emissive at 9.4 microns; the highest rate in the industry. These medical-grade heaters produce the longer infrared waves which penetrate the skin and allow for the greatest release of toxins. In addition, Solocarbon panels are the only far infrared heaters clinically shown to cause a nearly 3° increase in core body temperature producing the most detoxifying sweat.

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It is recommended that all members that have been on the scene of a fire, smoke producing incident, and/or have been exposed to smoke or the products of combustion, shower thoroughly (gross decontaminate shower), sauna for a minimum of 15 minutes, and shower again. Below is an example of the sequence of steps when incorporating sauna therapy as a routine procedure for firefighters:

Sunlighten continuously leads the industry with innovative products that improve lifestyles of firefighters, families, and communities. The Signature FIR sauna is the recommended sauna for any fire station as it delivers the highest amount of FIR energy into the body, is easy to use and maintain, and is very energy efficient. The portable Solo sauna is a great option for limited space and provides the same Solocarbon FIR heat for a more intense detox treatment.

Incorporating therapeutic infrared sauna treatment is not only an excellent method of detoxification, it may significantly reduce the risks of chronic conditions associated with occupational toxin exposure, firefighting and toxicity and improve overall well-being.

Post-Fire Sauna Protocol

1. Preheat the sauna for at least 30 minutes » Optimal temperature for detox with FIR is between 110°-130°F

2. Take a gross decontamination shower

3. Detoxify in a Sunlighten sauna » Relax! Sunlighten heaters are extremely emissive and simply require a person to rest while getting the maximum benefits. Firefighting is a strenuous activity; sit back and allow the technology to do the work » Practice slow, deep breathing to reduce stress and blood pressure » If new to FIR sauna therapy, begin with 15 minutes of treatment, and over time, increase to a maximum of 40 minutes » Individuals with high toxicity may feel nauseous or dizzy which is a result of detoxing too quickly. If this occurs, slowly stand up and exit the sauna. In the future, reduce the time of sessions and gradually increase as the body becomes less toxic

4. Hydrate » Standard protocol is to drink at least 24 ounces of water and/or electrolytes after treatment » The benefit of sweating to reduce toxins is limited by the total milliliters of sweat that can be produced. Therefore, hydration is extremely important for sauna detox. It is essential to replenish fluids during and after sessions. If you feel overly tired or sluggish the day after your sauna session, it may be the result of dehydration.

5. Shower again

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7 Systemic Components to Detox Program

1 Eat Well.» Eat certified organic foods

» Increase dark colored fruits and vegetables

» Increase fiber such as rice bran fiber and psyllium husk

» Eliminate dairy products, gluten, sugar, and processed/refined foods

DIRTY DOZEN (Better to Buy Organic)

CLEAN 15(Less Important to Buy Organic)

» Celery

» Peaches

» Strawberries

» Apples

» Blueberries

» Nectarines

» Bell peppers

» Spinach

» Cherries

» Kale and collard greens

» Potatoes

» Grapes (imported)

» Onions

» Avocado

» Sweet corn

» Pineapple

» Mangoes

» Sweet peas

» Asparagus

» Kiwi

» Cabbage

» Eggplant

» Cantaloupe

» Watermelon

» Grapefruit

» Sweet potato

» Honeydew melon

2 Support the elimination of toxins. (Talk to a health care professional before beginning any supplement regimen)

» Supplements that support detoxification include probiotics, chlorophyll, milk thistle, B vitamins, antioxidants (e.g., vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenes, bioflavonoids), dandelion, curcumin, and glutathione

As the world moves toward more natural and self-directed treatments, natural detoxification is get-ting more and more attention. Why? Because the build-up of toxic substances can lead to a host of common illnesses. Ridding the body of these toxins through lifestyle choices may help relieve symp-toms, prevent future illness and increase overall health and vitality. There are seven systemic compo-nents to any ongoing detoxification program:

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7 Systemic Components to Detox Program

3 Get daily physical activity. » Exercise stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic systems helping to remove fat- soluble toxins. However, after suppressing a fire, additional physical activity is not recommended

4 Regular sweat with Sunlighten FIR therapy. » Sunlighten far infrared sauna treatments help to eliminate toxins that have been released from fat cells

5 Relieve emotional stress. » A complete holistic detoxification protocol includes treatments that support the mental-emotional-spiritual levels of health » Negative emotions and stress physically impact the body through changes in neurotransmitters, the autonomic nervous system, hormones, and immunity» Self-reflection (e.g., meditation, journaling, breathing-focused relaxation reduces the impact of stress and negative emotional states

6 Indulge in manual therapy.» Manual therapies, such as massage and acupuncture, may be helpful to mobilize and eliminate toxins by stimulating the lymphatic, cardiovascular, and hepatobiliary systems

7 Connect with friends, family and community. » Lack of social support and community increases the risks of depression and self-defeating

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References

1. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db100.htm (accessed 4/21/16).2. Keir JL, Akhtar US, Matschke DM, Kirkham TL, Chan HM, Ayotte P, White PA, & Blais JM. Elevated

exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other organic mutagens in Ottawa firefighters participating in emergency, on-shift fire suppression. Environmental Science & Technology. 2017 Oct 18;51(21):12745-12755.

3. Firefighter Cancer Support Network. Firefighter cancer fact check. Available at: https://firefightercancersupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/firefighter-cancer-fact-check.pdf [Accessed 28 February 2018].

4. Bollinger T. Infrared sauna benefits for cancer and other healing: what you need to know. Available at https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/infrared-sauna-benefits/ [Accessed 12 March 2018].

5. Genuis SJ, Birkholz D, Rodushkin I, Beesoon S. Blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study: monitoring and elimination of bioaccumulated toxic elements. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2011 Aug;61(2):344-57.

6. Cohn JR, Emmett EA. The excretion of trace metals in human sweat. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1978 Jul-Aug;8(4):270-5.

7. Schnare DW, Ben M, Shields MG. Body burden reductions of PCBs, PBBs, and chlorinated pesticides in human subjects. Ambio. 1984;13(5-6):378-380.

8. Sears ME, Kerr KJ, Bray RI. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sweat: a systematic review. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:184745.

9. Hannuksela ML, Ellahham S. Benefits and risks of sauna bathing. Am J Med. 2001;110:118-12610. Dahlgren, J., Cecchini, M., Takhar, H., & Paepke, O. Persistent organic pollutants in 9/11 world trade

center rescue workers: reduction following detoxification. Chemosphere. 2007;69(8), 1320–1325. [Epub 2007 Jan 17].

11. Kilburn, K. H., Warsaw, R. H., & Shields, M. G. Neurobehavioral dysfunction in firemen exposed to polycholorinated biphenyls (PCBs): possible improvement after detoxification. Archives of Environmental Health. 1989;44(6), 345–350.

12. Vatansever, F & Hamblin, M.R. Far infrared radiation (FIR): its biological effects and medical applications.

13. Badger C, Preston N, Seers K, Mortimer P. Physical therapies for reducing and controlling lymphedema of the limbs. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;4:CD003141.

14. Egolf B, Lasker J, Wolf S, et al. The Roseto effect: a 50-year comparison of mortality rates. Am J Pub Health. 1992;82(8):1089-92.