FIRE FIGHTER FATALITY INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM

Study of Cancer among United States Firefighters

In 2010, NIOSH researchers, with funding assistance from the U.S. Fire Administration, launched a multi-year study to examine whether fire fighters have a higher risk of  cancer and other causes of death due to job exposures. The purpose of this page is to provide some details and a timeline of the study.

Project background and goals
The NIOSH study was designed to address limitations of previous fire fighter cancer research.

• The study includes a significantly larger population.With more than 30,000 career fire fighters who served in Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Fire Departments between 1950 and 2010, it is the largest study of United States fire fighters ever undertaken. In addition, both non-white and female fire fighters are represented.
• The study will not only look at deaths from cancer, but also at the diagnosis of certain kinds of cancer, such as testicular and prostate cancer, which have higher survival rates. Researchers will also examine other causes of death. This will help to better understand the risk for various cancers and illnesses among fire fighters compared to the general public.
• The current study also examines more exposures than previous studies. Researchers will look at the number and type of fire runs made (for example, EMS and vehicle fire) and the use of personal protective equipment and diesel exhaust controls.

Download the protocol (31 pages, 315K) for more details about the study.

First year progress
Originally, the study hoped to include 18,000 current and retired fire fighters, but the project team, with excellent cooperation from the three fire departments, has identified more than 30,000 fire fighters for the study. NIOSH researchers have made many trips to each location to collect data. All of the data for this study come from existing records. So far, researchers have gathered records of detailed work histories of the position(s) each fire fighter held and the length of time he/she spent in that position. Currently, researchers are collecting exposure records for each fire fighter.

In 2012, researchers plan to  identify health outcomes for the study population and to begin analyzing the data to identify health risks.

Project timeline
2010

• NIOSH and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced the initiation of a study of United States fire fighters.
• Partnership established with the National Cancer Institute.
• Approximately 30,000 fire fighters from Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco were identified for the study, beyond the original goal of 18,000.
• Work  began to collect records on fire fighters employed between 1950 and 2010.

2011

• List of fire fighters that will be included in the study was  completed for San Francisco and Chicago Fire Departments and initiated for the Philadelphia Fire Department.
• Collection of exposure records (e.g., number of fire runs by each fire company) was initiated in San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
• Work history data collection was completed for all departments.

2012

• Health outcomes will be identified among fire fighters included in the study.
  

2013

• Study analyses will be completed.
  
• Health risk among fire fighters will be determined.
  

2014

• Results will be communicated to fire fighters, stakeholders, and the public.

Read the most recent yearly newsletter (4 pages, 889K) to learn more about the study's progress.

Additional NIOSH fire fighter cancer research:

Cancer incidence among male Massachusetts firefighters, 1987-2003
The study examined the cancer risk in white male fire fighters compared to police and all other occupations in the state's cancer registry for the period from 1986 to 2003. Moderately elevated risks were found among firefighters for colon cancer and brain cancer. Weaker evidence of increased risk was found for bladder and kidney cancer and for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Mortality in Florida professional firefighters, 1972 to 1999
This study found no higher rate of death for all types of cancers for Florida fire fighters compared to the state's general population. However, data suggest that firefighters may have a higher death rate than the general population from bladder cancer.

Controlling diesel exhaust exposure inside firehouses
Fire fighters can be exposed to diesel exhaust in their living quarters if the exhaust is not properly captured. The article reviews the health effects of diesel exhaust, including its potential to cause cancer. Three ways to control emissions are described along with a list of seven practices that may help reduce exposures to diesel exhaust.

Mortality among fire fighters: A 27 state survey
The study examined all deaths among white male fire fighters from 1984-1990. Compared to the general population, fire fighters had an increased number of deaths from rectal, skin, kidney, lymphatic and hematopoietic cancers, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

If you have additional questions about the study, please contact Travis Kubale, Ph.D. or Tom Hales, M.D., M.P.H. We also welcome suggestions for how we could further improve or expand our website and encourage you to contact Amy Mobley with any ideas for how we could better serve you.