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Mortality among Boston firefighters, 1915--1975
British Journal of Industrial Medicine
|May 1, 1978
Summary
Firefighter mortality studies show mixed results. This study found lower death rates from most causes, but a higher risk of accidental death, suggesting selection factors influence survival.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Firefighting presents unique health risks.
- Previous studies on firefighter mortality and morbidity have yielded inconsistent findings regarding increased risks for cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, cancer, and accidents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the mortality experience of Boston firefighters from 1915 onwards.
- To compare observed causes of death among deceased firefighters with expected rates in the general male population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study of 5655 male Boston firefighters with at least three years of service.
- Analysis of 2470 death certificates, comparing observed mortality with expected rates from Massachusetts and US male populations.
- Calculation of standardized mortality ratios (SMR) for various causes of death.
Main Results:
- Overall mortality was 91% of expected.
- Significantly reduced SMRs were observed for infectious diseases, diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, chronic nephritis, blood diseases, and suicide (SMR < 50).
- SMRs for cardiovascular (86), neoplastic (83), and respiratory (93) deaths were close to expected. A higher SMR of 135 was found for accidents among active firefighters.
Conclusions:
- Firefighter survival appears influenced by strict entry selection, ethnicity, and sociocultural factors.
- While firefighters may experience higher morbidity, a strong link between firefighting as an occupation and cause-specific mortality is not evident.
- Accidental death represents an elevated risk for active firefighters.