Health

Firefighters use unverified antioxidant therapy as union warns of potential risks

BBC News reports that some firefighters are inhaling glutathione after smoke exposure, despite union warnings over safety.

Updated Sep 12, 2026 · 02:47 UTC1 reports

The short version

Firefighters are increasingly turning to inhaled glutathione to alleviate symptoms following toxic wildfire smoke exposure.[BBC News]
The International Association of Fire Fighters warned members about the therapy, citing a lack of clinical evidence and contamination recalls.[BBC News]
Advocates acknowledge the reported health benefits remain purely anecdotal rather than proven by clinical trials.[BBC News]
Health experts emphasize that the long-term effects and true efficacy of the treatment remain unverified.[BBC News]

Firefighters have a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general American population.[BBC News]
The International Association of Fire Fighters issued a warning highlighting two recent contamination recalls at compounding pharmacies producing glutathione.[BBC News]
No large-scale scientific research has established the safety and efficacy of inhaled glutathione for firefighters.[BBC News]

Whether inhaled glutathione provides genuine medical benefits or acts as a placebo remains unproven, as all current supportive evidence is anecdotal.[BBC News]
The long-term health consequences of inhaling glutathione among emergency personnel have not been studied.[BBC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.