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Background Most studies of firefighter cancer risks were conducted prior to 1990 and do not reflect risk from advances in building materials. Methods A case-control study using California Cancer Registry data (1988-2007) was conducted to evaluate the risk of cancer among firefighters, stratified by race. Results This study identified 3,996 male firefighters with cancer. Firefighters were found to have a significantly elevated risk for melanoma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-2.1), multiple myeloma (OR 1.4; 95%CI 1.0-1.8), acute myeloid leukemia (OR 1.4; 95%CI 1.0-2.0), and cancers of the esophagus (OR 1.6; 95%CI 1.2-2.1), prostate (OR 1.5; 95%CI 1.3-1.7), brain (OR 1.5; 95%CI 1.2-2.0), and kidney (OR 1.3; 95%CI 1.0-1.6). Conclusions In addition to observing cancer findings consistent with previous research, this study generated novel findings for firefighters with race/ethnicity other than white. It provides additional evidence to support the association between firefighting and several specific cancers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:715-729, 2015. © 2015 This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 18 708 male cases of leukemia from the California Cancer Registry, including 1703 cases usually employed in construction, were each matched with up to five controls from the same source who were diagnosed with cancers not thought to be related to exposures common in construction. Compared to other workers, construction workers were found to have a significantly elevated risk for all leukemia combined (morbidity odds ratio [MOR] = 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 1.20), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) (MOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.58), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (MOR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.27) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) (MOR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.44). Among the different construction occupations, the highest MOR for all leukemia was among carpet installers (MOR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.16, 3.44), followed by plumbers (MOR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.59) and laborers (MOR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.12, 1.42). Other associations were limited to specific construction occupations, leukemia subtypes and/or racial/ethnic groups. These associations should be further studied with more in-depth exposure assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pesticides are widely used in agriculture, and off-target pesticide drift exposes workers and the public to harmful chemicals. OBJECTIVE: We estimated the incidence of acute illnesses from pesticide drift from outdoor agricultural applications and characterized drift exposure and illnesses. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks-Pesticides program and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Drift included off-target movement of pesticide spray, volatiles, and contaminated dust. Acute illness cases were characterized by demographics, pesticide and application variables, health effects, and contributing factors. RESULTS: From 1998 through 2006, we identified 2,945 cases associated with agricultural pesticide drift from 11 states. Our findings indicate that 47% were exposed at work, 92% experienced low-severity illness, and 14% were children (< 15 years). The annual incidence ranged from 1.39 to 5.32 per million persons over the 9-year period. The overall incidence (in million person-years) was 114.3 for agricultural workers, 0.79 for other workers, 1.56 for nonoccupational cases, and 42.2 for residents in five agriculture-intensive counties in California. Soil applications with fumigants were responsible for the largest percentage (45%) of cases. Aerial applications accounted for 24% of cases. Common factors contributing to drift cases included weather conditions, improper seal of the fumigation site, and applicator carelessness near nontarget areas. CONCLUSIONS: Agricultural workers and residents in agricultural regions had the highest rate of pesticide poisoning from drift exposure, and soil fumigations were a major hazard, causing large drift incidents. Our findings highlight areas where interventions to reduce off-target drift could be focused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports about an environmental investigation conducted as a result of the exposure of two workers to methyl bromide (MeBr) at a cold storage facility in Carson, California. MeBr fumigation of grapes from Chile is required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent the entry of Chilean false red mite, Brevipalpus chilensis. Case reports involving a 22-year old worker and a 52-year old independent quality inspector are presented with the findings and recommendations.

The article discusses the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention's (CDC) review of data from the SENSOR-Pesticides program and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation for 1993-2009 to identify cases of acute pesticide-related illness due to occupational exposure to acrolin. Among the cases involved workers employed by Washington irrigation districts. Some of the common symptoms include eye irritation, headache and dyspnea.

Background Although lung cancer risks can vary by race/ethnicity and by construction occupation, these risks have not been examined extensively. Methods This study analyzed 110,937 lung cancer cases identified from the California Cancer Registry between 1988 and 2007. Mean age at diagnosis, proportion diagnosed at an advanced stage, and proportion with 3-year survival were calculated for lung cancer cases employed in the construction industry. Case-control methodology was also used to assess the risk of lung cancer. Morbidity odds ratios (MORs) were estimated by conditional logistic regression. Results Construction workers were found to have a significantly elevated risk for all lung cancer combined (MOR = 1.57) and for each lung cancer histologic subtype examined. All construction occupations, except managers/engineers and supervisors, had a significantly elevated risk for all lung cancer combined. Roofers and welders had the highest risks for total lung cancer and for each of the histologic subtypes. Construction workers in each of the four race/ethnicity groups also had significantly increased lung cancer risks. Compared to non-construction workers, construction workers were diagnosed at an earlier age, at a more advanced stage, and had significantly lower 3-year survival, though differences were modest. Conclusion These findings justify additional reductions in carcinogenic exposures in construction, and increased support for smoking cessation programs at construction sites. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:412-422, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Industry and occupation (I&O) information collected by cancer registries is useful for assessing associations among jobs and malignancies. However, systematic differences in I&O availability can bias findings., Methods: Codability by patient demographics, payor, identifying (casefinding) source, and cancer site was assessed using I&O text from first primaries diagnosed 2011-2012 and reported to California Cancer Registry. I&O were coded to a U.S. Census code or classified as blank/inadequate/unknown, retired, or not working for pay., Results: Industry was codable for 37% of cases; 50% had "unknown" and 9% "retired" instead of usual industry. Cases initially reported by hospitals, covered by preferred providers, or with known occupational etiology had highest codable industry; cases from private pathology laboratories, with Medicaid, or diagnosed in outpatient settings had least. Occupation results were similar., Conclusions: Recording usual I&O for retirees and improving linkages for reporting entities without patient access would improve I&O codability and research validity., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of leukemia found in adults. Identifying jobs that pose a risk for AML may be useful for identifying new risk factors. A matched case-control analysis was conducted using California Cancer Registry data from 1988 to 2007. This study included 8999 cases of AML and 24 822 controls. Industries with a statistically significant increased AML risk were construction (matched odds ratio [mOR] = 1.13); crop production (mOR = 1.41); support activities for agriculture and forestry (mOR = 2.05); and animal slaughtering and processing (mOR = 2.09). Among occupations with a statistically significant increased AML risk were miscellaneous agricultural workers (mOR = 1.76); fishers and related fishing workers (mOR = 2.02); nursing, psychiatric and home health aides (mOR = 1.65); and janitors and building cleaners (mOR = 1.54). Further investigation is needed to confirm study findings and to identify specific exposures responsible for the increased risks.