Cancer incidence among firefighters: 45 years of follow-up in five Nordic countries

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cancer incidence among firefighters

T2 - 45 years of follow-up in five Nordic countries

AU - Pukkala, Eero

AU - Martinsen, Jan Ivar

AU - Weiderpass, Elisabete

AU - Kjaerheim, Kristina

AU - Lynge, Elsebeth

AU - Tryggvadottir, Laufey

AU - Sparén, Pär

AU - Demers, Paul A

PY - 2014/6

Y1 - 2014/6

N2 - OBJECTIVES: Firefighters are potentially exposed to a wide range of known and suspected carcinogens through their work. The objectives of this study were to examine the patterns of cancer among Nordic firefighters, and to compare them with the results from previous studies.METHODS: Data for this study were drawn from a linkage between the census data for 15 million people from the five Nordic countries and their cancer registries for the period 1961-2005. SIR analyses were conducted with the cancer incidence rates for the entire national study populations used as reference rates.RESULTS: A total of 16 422 male firefighters were included in the final cohort. A moderate excess risk was seen for all cancer sites combined, (SIR=1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.11). There were statistically significant excesses in the age category of 30-49 years in prostate cancer (SIR=2.59, 95% CI 1.34 to 4.52) and skin melanoma (SIR=1.62, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.23), while there was almost no excess in the older ages. By contrast, an increased risk, mainly in ages of 70 years and higher, was observed for non-melanoma skin cancer (SIR=1.40, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.76), multiple myeloma (SIR=1.69, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.51), adenocarcinoma of the lung (SIR=1.90, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.62), and mesothelioma (SIR=2.59, 95% CI 1.24 to 4.77). By contrast with earlier studies, the incidence of testicular cancer was decreased (SIR=0.51, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.98).CONCLUSIONS: Some of these associations have been observed previously, and potential exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, asbestos and shift work involving disruption of circadian rhythms may partly explain these results.

AB - OBJECTIVES: Firefighters are potentially exposed to a wide range of known and suspected carcinogens through their work. The objectives of this study were to examine the patterns of cancer among Nordic firefighters, and to compare them with the results from previous studies.METHODS: Data for this study were drawn from a linkage between the census data for 15 million people from the five Nordic countries and their cancer registries for the period 1961-2005. SIR analyses were conducted with the cancer incidence rates for the entire national study populations used as reference rates.RESULTS: A total of 16 422 male firefighters were included in the final cohort. A moderate excess risk was seen for all cancer sites combined, (SIR=1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.11). There were statistically significant excesses in the age category of 30-49 years in prostate cancer (SIR=2.59, 95% CI 1.34 to 4.52) and skin melanoma (SIR=1.62, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.23), while there was almost no excess in the older ages. By contrast, an increased risk, mainly in ages of 70 years and higher, was observed for non-melanoma skin cancer (SIR=1.40, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.76), multiple myeloma (SIR=1.69, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.51), adenocarcinoma of the lung (SIR=1.90, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.62), and mesothelioma (SIR=2.59, 95% CI 1.24 to 4.77). By contrast with earlier studies, the incidence of testicular cancer was decreased (SIR=0.51, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.98).CONCLUSIONS: Some of these associations have been observed previously, and potential exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, asbestos and shift work involving disruption of circadian rhythms may partly explain these results.

KW - Adenocarcinoma

KW - Adult

KW - Age Factors

KW - Aged

KW - Carcinogens

KW - Cohort Studies

KW - Firefighters

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Humans

KW - Incidence

KW - Lung Neoplasms

KW - Male

KW - Melanoma

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Multiple Myeloma

KW - Neoplasms

KW - Occupational Diseases

KW - Occupational Exposure

KW - Prostatic Neoplasms

KW - Risk

KW - Scandinavian and Nordic Countries

KW - Skin Neoplasms

KW - Testicular Neoplasms

U2 - 10.1136/oemed-2013-101803

DO - 10.1136/oemed-2013-101803

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24510539

SN - 1351-0711

VL - 71

SP - 398

EP - 404

JO - Occupational and Environmental Medicine

JF - Occupational and Environmental Medicine

IS - 6

ER -