sentences:  This may be linked to occupational hazards such as environmental toxins, heavy lifting, and irregular shift work.In 2012, the International Association of Firefighters in the U.S. recommended that all fire departments create policies on pregnancy and/or maternity leave, but in a study in 2018 nearly a quarter of female firefighters reported that their departments had no such policies.One major hurdle to entrance into firefighting for women was the lack of facilities.