RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Long-term follow-up for cancer incidence in a cohort of Danish firefighters JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine JO Occup Environ Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP oemed-2017-104660 DO 10.1136/oemed-2017-104660 A1 Kajsa Kirstine Ugelvig Petersen A1 Julie Elbaek Pedersen A1 Jens Peter Bonde A1 Niels Erik Ebbehoej A1 Johnni Hansen YR 2017 UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2017/10/21/oemed-2017-104660.abstract AB Objectives To examine cancer incidence among Danish firefighters using several employment-related exposure subgroups.Methods A historical cohort of 9061 male Danish firefighters was established from collected personnel and membership records from employers and trade unions. Using the unique Danish personal identification number, information on additional previous employment, cancer and vital status was linked to members of the cohort from the Supplementary Pension Fund Register, the Danish Cancer Registry and the Danish Civil Registration System. SIRs were calculated for specific cancer types using rates for the general population, a sample of the working population and military employees, respectively.Results Compared with the selected reference groups, the overall observed incidence of cancer among the firefighters was at level with the expected (SIR 1.02, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.09 vs the general population). The SIR for colon cancer was consistently significantly reduced, while the slight excess seen for melanoma of the skin, prostate and testicular cancer compared with the general population was not reproduced using the military as reference.Conclusions Previous associations with melanoma of the skin, prostate and testicular cancer are supported by our main results. However, the increase in incidence of these cancers is not reproduced using the military as reference. Similarities in cancer profile for the firefighters and the military point to shared risk factors in either lifestyle or work environment.