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Cancer incidence in a cohort of licensed pesticide applicators in Florida.

Fleming LE; Bean JA; Rudolph M; Hamilton K

J Occup Environ Med 1999 Apr; 41(4):279-288

https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-199904000-00010

20029985

This study is a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) analysis of cancer incidence of licensed pesticide applicators in Florida, compared with that of Florida's general population. Through extensive data linkages, 33,658 applicators were assembled who had 1266 incident cancers and 279,397 person-years from January 1, 1975, to December 31, 1993. Disease risk from ethanol and tobacco use were significantly decreased. Among males, prostate cancer (SIR = 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72-2.13) and testicular cancer (SIR = 2.48; 95% CI, 1.57-3.72) were significantly elevated. No confirmed cases of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) were found, and the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was not increased. There were few female applicators; nevertheless, cervical cancer incidence (SIR = 3.69; 95% CI, 1.84-6.61) was significantly increased, while the incidence of breast cancer was significantly decreased. Cancers that have been associated with estrogen disrupters were found in male, but not female, pesticide applicators. The lack of soft tissue sarcoma is at odds with prior literature associated with the use of phenoxy herbicides.

Agriculture; Cancer; Cancer-rates; Risk-factors; Risk-analysis; Occupational-exposure; Agricultural-chemicals; Pesticides-and-agricultural-chemicals; Pesticide-residues; Cancer-rates; Sarcomagenicity

Lora E. Fleming, MD, PhD, MPH, MSc, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016069 (R-669), Miami, FL 33101

JOEMFM

19990401

Journal Article

161832

Grant

1999

Grant-Number-K01-OH-00125

4

1076-2752

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

FL

University of Miami, Miami, Florida