Mortality and tumour morbidity among Swedish market gardeners and orchardists

• In order to investigate possible effects of exposure to pesticides, mainly fungicides and insecticides, we studied a cohort of 2370 subjects, who, during the period 1965-1982, had been members of a horticulturists' trade association (market gardeners and orchardists). Compared to a regional reference population, total mortality ( 542 deaths; standardized mortality morbidity ratio, SMR = 0.8 ; 95 % confidence limits, C Ls = 0.7, 0.9) and mortality due to malignant tumours ( 133 deaths, SMR = 0.9 ; C Ls = 0.7, 1.0), and cardiovascular and respiratory deaths were somewhat decreased Suggestive excesses in mortality were seen for mental disorders and tumours of the stomach, skin and nervous system The tumours of the nervous system were in particular excess in the young and middle-aged horticulturists (below age 60 ; six cases, SMR = 2.9 ; C Ls = 1.1, 6.2) During the period 1965- 1986, the total tumour morbidity was slightly decreased ( 255 cases; SMR = 0.9 ; C Ls = 0.8, 1.0), as were gastrointestinal and respiratory tract tumours The incidence of melanomas was increased ( 15 cases, SMR = 2.1 ; C Ls = 1.2, 3.5), and tumours of the female genital organs, myelomas, and brain tumours ( 12 cases, SMR = 1.5 ; C Ls = 0.8, 2.7) were slightly numerically elevated Brain tumours in the young and middle-aged horticulturists ( 11 cases, SMR = 3.2 ; C Ls = 1.6, 5.7), including meningiomas (four observed, SMR = 6.8 ; C Ls = 1.9, 17.4), were increased, especially in the period 1975-1979 The mortality and tumour morbidity patterns in gardeners and orchardists, analysed separately, were similar to the patterns in all the horticulturists The risk for brain tumours in the young and middle-aged subjects was increased about threefold in the gardeners, and about fivefold in the orchardists; in particular, meningiomas were in excess among the gardeners.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsterapi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Therapy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Brain tumour

Morbidity

Mortality

Horticulturists

Pesticides

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)