Firefighters say this antioxidant helped them - their union warns it could be risky
Firefighters are increasingly using the antioxidant glutathione to combat the health effects of inhaling toxic wildfire smoke, despite warnings from unions about the lack of clinical evidence. While some report immediate relief, experts caution against the risks of unproven treatments and potential contamination.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between desperate health needs of first responders and the necessity of rigorous medical testing for safety.
Image source, Handout Image caption, David Marquez, who's been a firefighter for over 25 years, testified about how beneficial he found glutathione
Days after he helped extinguish the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, Pasadena Fire Captain David Marquez inhaled his first dose of glutathione on the side of the road outside the Rose Bowl stadium.
The wildfire became the second most destructive fire in California's history, killing 19 and destroying 9,000 buildings.
"We were having trouble sleeping," he said of his team. "Chronic cough, headache, fatigue - just a really rough set of symptoms following the fire."
"I felt much better immediately after the worst exposure of my career," said Marquez, a 25-year veteran of firefighting, who has battled with health issues for years.
"We were so desperate because of how messed up we were. We were willing to pretty much try anything," he said.
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