Assessing cancer risk in firefighters in Northern Germany: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is the analysis of cancer incidence and mortality among the firefighters of the municipal fire brigade in the city of Neubrandenburg in Germany.

METHODS

To asses cancer risk standardized incidence ratios and standardized mortality ratios were computed. The risk of the firefighter cohort was compared to the risk of two reference populations: the county Mecklenburg Lake District, where the city of Neubrandenburg is located, and the federal state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

RESULTS

Results are based on data from 100 firefighters. No statistically significant results were observed for the incidence or mortality of all cancers (ICD-10 C00-C97 without C44). The SIR and SMR for bladder cancer were significantly elevated.

CONCLUSION

The overall cancer incidence and mortality among Neubrandenburg's firefighters were not higher than among the reference population. The increased incidence and mortality from bladder cancer are in line with published results, especially with the monograph by the International Agency for Research on Cancer on occupational exposure as a firefighter.