THE QUEENSLAND Government has released the findings of a Monash University study, showing its fire fighters do not have a higher incidence of cancer than the general population.
The study examined the incidence of cancer among 7504 operational full-time and auxiliary fire fighters employed between 1995 and 2006, and compared it with expected cancers based on incidence in the general Queensland community.
This followed international concerns over the relationship between fire fighting and the incidence of some cancers. Concerns were raised in Queensland when a number of fire fighters from the Atherton station were diagnosed with brain tumours.
A 2008 Queensland Health study found a cancer cluster at the Atherton Fire station, but recommended further research.
The study was undertaken by the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (MonCOEH) in the School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine at Monash University.
The Queensland Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and health of its fire fighters. It will aim for more definitive results through a national fire fighter cancer and mortality study, which should have greater numbers, greater potential to investigate cancer further back in time and greater potential to investigate specific exposures and/or activities during fire fighter duties.
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