Cancer risk among firefighters: a review and meta-analysis of 32 studies.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to review 32 studies on firefighters and to quantitatively and qualitatively determine the cancer risk using a meta-analysis.


METHODS
A comprehensive search of computerized databases and bibliographies from identified articles was performed. Three criteria used to assess the probable, possible, or unlikely risk for 21 cancers included pattern of meta-relative risks, study type, and heterogeneity testing.


RESULTS
The findings indicated that firefighters had a probable cancer risk for multiple myeloma with a summary risk estimate (SRE) of 1.53 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.21-1.94, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (SRE = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.31-1.73), and prostate (SRE = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.15-1.43). Testicular cancer was upgraded to probable because it had the highest summary risk estimate (SRE = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.30-3.13). Eight additional cancers were listed as having a "possible" association with firefighting.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm previous findings of an elevated metarelative risk for multiple myeloma among firefighters. In addition, a probable association with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, prostate, and testicular cancer was demonstrated.
LeMasters
Grace K
GK
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA. grace.lemasters@ic.edu
Genaidy
Ash M
AM
Succop
Paul
P
Deddens
James
J
Sobeih
Tarek
T
Barriera-Viruet
Heriberto
H
Dunning
Kari
K
Lockey
James
J
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005390:Fires; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012306:Risk