Cohort mortality study of Philadelphia firefighters

Background Fire fighters are exposed to a wide variety of toxic chemicals. Previous studies have reported excess risk of some cancers but have been li mited by small numbers or little information on employment characteristics. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort mortality study among 7,789 Phi ladelphia firefighters employed between 1925 and 1986. For each cause of de ath, the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. We also compared mortality among groups of firefighters def ined by the estimated number of career runs and potential for diesel exposu re. Results In comparison with U.S. white men, the firefighters had similar mor tality from all causes of death combined (SMR = 0.96) and all cancers (SMR = 1.10). There were statistically significant deficits of deaths from nervo us system diseases (SMR = 0.47), cerebrovascular diseases (SMR = 0.83), res piratory diseases (SMR = 0.67), genitourinary diseases (SMR = 0.54), all ac cidents (SMR = 0.72), and suicide (SMR = 0.66). Statistically significant e xcess 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 amo ng firefighters with at least 20 years of service. Conclusions Our study found no significant increase in overall mortality am ong Philadelphia firefighters. However, we observed increased mortality for cancers of the colon and kidney, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myelo ma. There was insufficient follow-up since the introduction of diesel equip ment to adequately assess risk. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:463-476, 2001. Publishe d 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc(dagger).