Cohort mortality study of Philadelphia firefighters

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine 2001-05, Vol.39 (5), p.463-476
• Main Authors: Baris, Dalsu, Garrity, Thomas J., Telles, Joel Leon, Heineman, Ellen F., Olshan, Andrew, Zahm, Shelia Hoar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cause of Death; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Cohort Studies; cohort study; Colonic Neoplasms - mortality; firefighter services; firefighters; Fires; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms - mortality; Leukemia - mortality; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - mortality; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; mortality; Multiple Myeloma - mortality; Occupational Diseases - mortality; Philadelphia; Prostatic Neoplasms - mortality; Retrospective Studies; Toxicology; USA, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Various organic compounds
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.1040

Background Fire fighters are exposed to a wide variety of toxic chemicals. Previous studies have reported excess risk of some cancers but have been limited by small numbers or little information on employment characteristics. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort mortality study among 7,789 Philadelphia firefighters employed between 1925 and 1986. For each cause of death, the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. We also compared mortality among groups of firefighters defined by the estimated number of career runs and potential for diesel exposure. Results In comparison with U.S. white men, the firefighters had similar mortality from all causes of death combined (SMR = 0.96) and all cancers (SMR = 1.10). There were statistically significant deficits of deaths from nervous system diseases (SMR = 0.47), cerebrovascular diseases (SMR = 0.83), respiratory diseases (SMR = 0.67), genitourinary diseases (SMR = 0.54), all accidents (SMR = 0.72), and suicide (SMR = 0.66). Statistically significant excess risks were observed for colon cancer (SMR = 1.51) and ischemic heart disease (SMR = 1.09). The risks of mortality from colon cancer (SMR = 1.68), kidney cancer (SMR = 2.20), non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (SMR = 1.72), multiple myeloma (SMR = 2.31), and benign neoplasms (SMR = 2.54) were increased among firefighters with at least 20 years of service. Conclusions Our study found no significant increase in overall mortality among Philadelphia firefighters. However, we observed increased mortality for cancers of the colon and kidney, non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. There was insufficient follow‐up since the introduction of diesel equipment to adequately assess risk. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:463–476, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.