Perceived Health Risks Among Firefighters; The New Jersey Firefighter Health Survey

Abstract

Objective: There is a growing literature on the risk of chronic disease among firefighters, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. However there is little information on firefighter's perception thereof. Methods: Firefighters attending a union convention in New Jersey completed a survey with four domains: firefighting experience; perceived additional risk for chronic diseases (six-point Likert scale); cancer screening history; demographics, and risk behaviors. Results: Among 167 enrolled firefighters, all were men and 86.6% active career. Median perceived risk ranged from high risk (colon, hematologic, breast, prostate, and testicular cancers) to very high risk (CVD, pulmonary diseases, all cancers, lung and oral cancer). Conclusions: NJ Firefighters attributed considerable additional risk to acquiring chronic disease as a result of their firefighting activities. Understanding firefighter perceptions of their own morbidity and mortality will help develop future firefighter preparatory programs.

Workers' Compensation Claims for Conditions Presumed to Be Occupational Diseases Among Firefighters in Washington State, 2000–2017

“…Like respiratory and heart diseases, many firefighters also identify cancer as a major health concern, 1,2,11,14 which was reflected in the number of presumption claims filed for cancers. The high acceptance rate among presumption cancer claims (86%) is likely because of the Washington law specifically defining 11 types of cancer eligible for presumptive coverage.…”

Firefighters and Cancer: A Review of the Current State of Cancer Incidences and Recent Trends in Risk Perception and Risk Reduction Efforts

“…While some cancers (such as mesothelioma) have received considerable attention, today there is growing recognition of the dangers of multiple types of cancers among firefighters. Specifically, studies have found linkages between firefighting and numerous cancers, for example, bladder, 4,5,6 colorectal, 7,8 brain and central nervous system, 9,10 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 5,11,12 skin melanoma, 4,5,13 prostate and testicular, 5,13,14 with most having an increased mortality rate when compared to the general population. 4 Kidney cancer has also been found at increased rates, however, findings are less consistent for kidney cancer and certain other cancers, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, 2,11,12 leukemia, 4,15,16 lymphosarcoma and reticulosarcoma, 4 multiple myeloma, 4,17,18 and pancreatic cancer.…”

“…Research shows that firefighters have general concerns about cancer risk, 39 with both new and experienced firefighters perceiving cancer as main health risk. 40 Recent studies show that firefighters believe they are at higher risk of cancer than the general public, 9 and believe those risks are high to very high for colon, pulmonary, hematologic, breast, prostate, testicular, lung, oral, and all cancers, 9 with female firefighters expressing specific concerns about breast cancer as a result of beliefs that breast tissue is the most absorbent part of the body and that gear opens in such a way as to increase exposure. 41 Concerns about cancer risk are true both of career urban firefighters in the U.S. 39,40,42,9,43, rural volunteer and career firefighters in the U.S., 44 female firefighters, 41 and firefighters in the Dominican Republic.…”

Association of Occupational Stress With Tinnitus Among Career Firefighters in the United States

“…16 In addition to the multiple physical hazards, firefighters also face some unique psychosocial stressors, frequently working 24-or 48-hour shifts during which they remain and away from their homes and on-call for unpredictable events. 17,18 Taken together, these occupational health risks reflect a significant burden, and although the individual risks have been welldescribed, the ways some of these factors interact have yet to be fully explored.…”