title: The Airwave Health Monitoring Study of police officers and staff in Great Britain: rationale, design and methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Airwave Health Monitoring Study was established to evaluate possible health risks associated with use of TETRA, a digital communication system used by police forces and other emergency services in Great Britain since 2001. The study has been broadened to investigate more generally the health of the work force.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2004, participants from each force who agreed to participate were enrolled either with an enrolment questionnaire or a comprehensive health screening performed locally. This includes questionnaire, 7-day food diaries, anthropometry, measurements of cardiovascular and cognitive function, blood chemistry, coagulation and haematology. Blood and urine samples are stored in vapour phase liquid nitrogen allowing long-term access for biochemical or genetic analysis. Access to the resource is via an access committee and a steering committee, including external scientific advisers as well as representatives of the police officers and staff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By the end of 2012, the study had recruited 42,112 participants, of whom 35,199 (83.6%) had attended the health screening. Almost two thirds of participants were men and 71% of them were a TETRA user. Being in lower ranks (constable/sergeant and staff) was associated with a worse cardio-metabolic risk profile compared to higher ranks (inspector or chief inspector, superintendent and above).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Airwave Health Monitoring Study is the only large-scale cohort study of police employees worldwide. The specificities of this sample, such as its well-defined job hierarchy, make it a particularly valuable occupational cohort. Participants have consented to the use of their data and samples for future, currently unspecified, research purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St. Mary׳s Campus, Norfolk Place, W2 1PG London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: p.elliott@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St. Mary׳s Campus, Norfolk Place, W2 1PG London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anne-Claire
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vergnaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St. Mary׳s Campus, Norfolk Place, W2 1PG London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St. Mary׳s Campus, Norfolk Place, W2 1PG London, United Kingdom; Evidera, 1 Butterwick, Hammersmith, London, W6 8DL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neasham
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St. Mary׳s Campus, Norfolk Place, W2 1PG London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spear
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St. Mary׳s Campus, Norfolk Place, W2 1PG London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants
keywords: Biobank; Chronic disease; Cohort study; Occupational exposure; Police