For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
Carcinogens add extra spice to hazards of firefighters’ job
Carcinogens add extra spice to hazards of firefighters’ job

Occupational health expert David McBride examines the evidence supporting the carcinogenicity of occupational exposure as a firefighter
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
Not a subscriber? Unlock this article by subscribing here.
1. IARC. Occupational exposure as a firefighter. IARC Monogr Identif Carcinog Hazards Hum 2023;132:1–730.
2. Larigot L, Benoit L, Koual M, et al. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its diverse ligands and functions: An exposome receptor. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2022;62:383–404.
3. DeBono NL, Daniels RD, Beane Freeman LE, et al. Firefighting and cancer: A meta-analysis of cohort studies in the context of cancer hazard identification. Saf Health Work 2023;14(2):141–52.
4. Goodrich JM, Jung AM, Furlong MA, et al. Repeat measures of DNA methylation in an inception cohort of firefighters. Occup Environ Med 2022;79(10):656–63.