title: Mortality of a Police Cohort: 1950-2005.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors conducted a retrospective cohort mortality study on police officers from 1950-2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) analyses were conducted separately for white male (n=2761), black (n=286), and female (n=259) officers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mortality from all causes of death combined for white male officers was significantly higher than expected (SMR=1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.14-1.26). Increased mortality was also seen for all malignant neoplasms combined (SMR=1.32; 1.19-1.46), all benign neoplasms combined (SMR=2.50; 1.08-4.93), and all diseases of the circulatory system combined (SMR=1.11; 1.02-1.19). The elevated mortality for all malignant neoplasms was primarily due to statistically significant excesses in cancers of the esophagus, colon, respiratory system, Hodgkin's disease and leukemia. Black officers had lower than expected mortality from all causes (SMR=0.45; 0.18-0.92) while female officers had elevated all-cause mortality (SMR=2.17; 1.12-3.79).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of increased risk for malignant neoplasms should be replicated and studied in relation to measured risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Vena
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Luenda E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Ja K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Cecil M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Burchfiel
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Desta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fekedulegn
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Violanti
keywords: Mortality; cancer; epidemiology; law enforcement officers; occupational health