Is testicular cancer an occupational disease of fire fighters?

Background A previous investigation showed an increased risk of testicular cancer among firefighters in Wellington City; New Zealand, during the 1980s . Other studies of firefighters had not identified testicular cancer as an occupational disease. Methods This was an historical cohort study of mortality and cancer inciden ce in all paid New Zealand firefighters, from 1977 to 1995. Results The only cancer for which this study provided evidence of an increa sed risk was testicular cancer, even after excluding cases from the previou s investigation. The standardized incidence ratio for 1990-96 was 3.0 (95% confidence interval: 1.3-5.90). There was no evidence that fire fighters we re at increased risk from any particular cause of death. Conclusions This study confirmed that New Zealand fire fighters are at incr eased risk of testicular cancer, although the reason is unknown. Other inci dence studies of cancer in firefighters are needed to confirm this finding. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.