The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49446

Fangchao Ma, MD¹, Lora E. Fleming, MD PhD MPH MSc¹, David James Lee, PhD¹, James Schlesselman, PhD¹, and Edward Trapido, ScD². (1) Epidemiology & Public Health (R-669), University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016069, Miami, FL 33101, 305-243-4502, fma@med.miami.edu, (2) Florida Cancer Data System, P.O. Box 016960 (D4-11), Miami, FL 33101

Firefighters are exposed to a number of potential carcinogens in the course of their work. Prior studies have indicated possible increased occupational risks of brain, lymphopoietic, bladder, kidney, and possibly lung cancers among firefighters. To examine the cancer risks associated with firefighting in Florida, a proportional mortality study (PMR) was conducted among 35,777 males certified between 1972 to 1999 in Florida to work as firefighters. A total of 1,411 firefighter deaths were identified through Florida Vital Statistics linkage through 1999, with 364 deaths due to malignant neoplasms. The overall risk of cancer among firefighters was significantly higher when compared to the general Florida population (PMR=113; 95% CI=102-125). Significant excess mortality was observed for respiratory cancer (PMR=123; 95% CI=103-144) and skin cancer (PMR=235; 95% CI=134-364). Firefighters had significantly lower risk for prostate cancer (PMR=53; 95% CI=33-79). Elevated mortality risks for brain tumor, cancers of lymphopoietic, bladder and kidney, and soft tissue sarcoma were observed, but were not statistically significant. Additional analyses examined comparison with a group of 29,218 male volunteer Florida firefighters, and subpopulations by gender and Hispanic ethnicity. Results indicate that despite the increasing use of protective equipment (e.g., self-contained breathing apparatus) and procedures designed to reduce carcinogen exposures, firefighters may remain at significantly elevated risk of mortality due to selected cancers.

This work was funded in part by a grant from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Learning Objectives:

• Obtain information on current issues in occupational health and safety reserach.
• Communicate with other researchers about firefighter health promotion.
• Exchange ideas in occupational mortality study methodology.

Keywords: Occupational Exposure, Occupational Injury and Death

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.