Reproductive hazards of fire fighting II. Chemical hazards

McDiarmid, Melissa A.; Lees, Peter S.J.; Agnew, Jacqueline; Midzenski, Malinda A.; Duffy, Richard M.

doi:10.1002/ajim.4700190404

Cited by 27 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 146 publications

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“…Research conducted in the 1980’s suggested that toxic exposures experienced by male firefighters may increase the likelihood of birth defects among their offspring [10]. Similarly, preliminary data from the same period indicated that the exposure to carbon monoxide and high ambient temperatures may increase the risk of birth defects among pregnant female firefighters and highlight the reproductive dangers of firefighting [11,12]. Evidence also suggests that pregnant women’s exposure to loud noises (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The health of women in the US fire service

et al. 2012

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BackgroundDespite statements from national fire service organizations, including the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), promoting a diverse work force related to gender within the fire service, rates of women firefighters remain very low. Thus, research into why this extensive gender disparity continues is a high priority. Recent years have seen a number of large scale studies on firefighter health and health risk behaviors however, none have focused on the health of women firefighters and nearly all have eliminated women from the sample due to small sample size. Data from the present report is drawn from all females in a large, randomly selected cohort of firefighters in an epidemiological study designed to assess health outcomes and health risk behaviors identified as most important to the fire service.MethodsData reported for the present study were collected as baseline data for the Firefighter Injury and Risk Evaluation (FIRE) Study, a longitudinal cohort study examining risk factors for injury in both career and volunteer firefighters in the IAFC Missouri Valley Region. Of the departments assessed, only 8 career and 6 volunteer departments had any women firefighters. All the women solicited for participation chose to enroll in the study. The number of women ranged from 1 to 7 in career departments and 1 to 6 in volunteer departments.ResultsWhere possible, comparisons are made between female firefighters and published data on male firefighters as well as comparisons between female firefighters and military members. Compared to male firefighters, females had more favorable body composition among both career and volunteer firefighters. Tobacco use rates were generally higher among females than males and rates among female firefighters were similar to the rates of female military members. While rates of alcohol use were higher than the general population, only one of the participants evidenced responses in the range of concern on the CAGE screening.ConclusionsIn general, the findings offer an interesting glimpse of the health of women in the fire service as a generally healthy occupational workforce with some unique health risk behavior challenges. They also highlight some of the similarities and differences between male and female firefighters and bolster the argument for studying female firefighters as a unique occupational sub-population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The health of women in the US fire service

et al. 2012

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“…Recognized or probable carcinogens to which fire fighters can be exposed include asbestos, benzene, diesel engine exhaust, ethylene oxide, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, among others [International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Aronson et ai. Jankovic et al, 1991;McDiarmid et al, 1991;Siemiatycki, 19911. Studies of fire fighters have reported excesses of brain cancer, malignant melanoma, leukemia, colon cancer, and other various cancers [Howe and Burch, 1990;Sama et al, 1990;Demers et al, 1992;Guidotti, 19931. Substances which may potentiate a cardiovascular reaction in fire fighters include carbon monoxide and dioxide, acrolein, benzene, cyanide, hydrogen chloride, particulates, sulphur oxides, and organic solvents [Kristensen, 1989a1.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality among fire fighters in metropolitan Toronto

Aronson

Tomlinson

Smith

1994

American J Industrial Med

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Fire fighters are exposed to substances which are recognized or suspected causal agents in cancer or heart disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not fire fighters experience increased risk for any specific cause of death. A retrospective cohort study was conducted, with 5,995 subjects recruited from all six fire departments within Metropolitan Toronto. The mortality experience of the cohort was ascertained through computerized record linkage and compared to that of the male Ontario population specific to cause, age, and calendar period from 1950 through 1989. Average duration of follow-up was 21 years, and there were 777 deaths among the 5,414 males included in the analysis, giving an all-cause standardized mortality ratio of 95 (95% confidence interval: 88-102). Three specific causes of death exhibit statistically significant excesses (brain tumors, "other" malignant neoplasms, and aortic aneurysms). There are also slight increases in risk for some other sites of cancer, and for various diseases of the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems. This study is consistent with others in demonstrating that fire fighters experience increased risk of death from cancer of the brain, and in suggesting increased risk for various other causes of death.

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“…INTRODUCTION Fire®ghters are exposed under uncontrolled conditions to a wide variety of toxic chemicals including known and suspected carcinogens, such as benzene and formaldehyde in wood smoke, polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soots and tars, arsenic in wood preservatives, asbestos in building insulation, diesel engine exhaust, and dioxins [Froines et al, 1987;IARC 1987;Jankovic et al, 1991;McDiarmid et al, 1991;Siemiyatcki, 1991]. The widespread introduction of synthetic building materials in the late 1950s increased the complexity of the ®re®ghters' exposure.…”

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confidence: 99%