"A review of the literature on cancer in firefighters, published since the IARC review of 2007, was undertaken to establish any new evidence for associations of occupation of firefighter with cancer, or pointers to possible associations. The review gave attention to 21 cancer sites indicated inconclusively by previous reviews. In total, more than 600 publications on exposure and epidemiology were screened for data related to cancer in firefighters. From these papers 11 key studies were identified to provide primary epidemiological data and a further 14 supportive case-control studies were selected. Every study screened and rejected is detailed in an annex to the report, with a brief reason for exclusion, as part of the comprehensive reporting of the review. The studies of firefighters reported in this review cover long periods of employment (up to 40 years) with some large cohorts and therefore provide useful additions to the data previously available.
The studies identified were summarised and scored for quality, and conclusions were reached for each of the 21 cancer sites, taking account of the results of the study and the plausibility of an association, based upon the known chemical exposures of firefighters. The combined evidence for each specific site was classified in two dimensions: one which focused on the presence of statistically significant associations of cancer with the occupation of firefighter (None, Limited, Mixed, Consistent) and the second which was based on the qualities of the study, the existence of a plausible mechanism and a demonstration of a trend with categories: Very weak, Weak, Moderate, Strong. The classifications for those cancers where a statistical association was seen are summarised in the table below. The outcome is compared with the conclusions of the previous review by IARC. ..."

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