Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mortality and tumour morbidity among Swedish market gardeners and orchardists

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

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, CLs = 0.7, 0.9) and mortality due to malignant tumours (133 deaths, SMR = 0.9; CLs = 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; CLs = 1.1, 6.2). During the period 1965–1986, the total tumour morbidity was slightly decreased (255 cases; SMR = 0.9; CLs = 0.8, 1.0), as were gastro-intestinal and respiratory tract tumours. The incidence of melanomas was increased (15 cases, SMR = 2.1; CLs = 1.2, 3.5), and tumours of the female genital organs, myelomas, and brain tumours (12 cases, SMR = 1.5; CLs = 0.8, 2.7) were slightly numerically elevated. Brain tumours in the young and middle-aged horticulturists (11 cases, SMR = 3.2; CLs = 1.6, 5.7), including meningiomas (four observed, SMR = 6.8; CLs = 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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alavanja MCR, Blair A, Merkle S, Teske J, Eaton B (1988) Mortality among agricultural extension agents. Am J Ind Med 14:167–176

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Balarajan R, Acheson ED (1984) Soft tissue sarcomas in agriculture and forestry workers. J Epidemiol Community Health 38:113–116

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Barthel E (1985) Erhöhte Mortalität an Ösophaguskrebs, Magenkrebs und Hautmelanom bei Pestizid-exponierten Schadlingsbekämpfern in der DDR. Arch Geschwulstforsch 55:481–488

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Blair A, Grauman DJ, Lubin JH, Fraumeni F (1983) Lung cancer and other causes of death among licensed pesticide applicators. J Natl Cancer Inst 71:31–37

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Blair A, Malker H, Cantor KP, Burmeister L, Wiklund K (1985) Cancer among farmers. Scand J Work Environ Health 11:397–407

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bond GG, Wetterstroem NH, Roush GJ, McLaren EA, Lipps TE, Cook RR (1988) Cause specific mortality among employees engaged in the manufacture, formulation, or packaging of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and related salts. Br J Ind Med 45:98–105

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Burmeister LF (1990) Cancer in Iowa farmers: recent results. Am J Ind Med 18:295–301

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cordier S, Poisson M, Germ M, Varin J, Conso F, Hemon D (1988) Gliomas and exposure to wood preservatives. Br J Ind Med 45:705–709

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Corrao G, Calleri M, Carle F, Russo R, Bosia S, Piccioni P (1989) Cancer risk in a cohort of licensed pesticide users. Scand J Work Environ Health 15:203–209

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Dardanoi L, Gafà L, Paternò R, Pavone G (1984) A case-control study on lip cancer risk factors in Ragusa (Sicily). Int J Cancer 34:335–337

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Demers PA, Vaughan TL, Schommer RR (1991) Occupation, socioeconomic status, and brain tumor mortality: a death certifcate-based case-control study. J Occup Med 33:1001–1006

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Eriksson M, Hardell L, Malker H, Weiner J (1992) Malginant lymphoproliferative diseases in occupations with potential exposure to phenoxyacetic acids or dioxins: a register-based study. Am J Ind Med 22:305–312

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ferrari, G, Lovaste MG (1986) Primary intracranial tumors in the province of Trento — Italy(1977–1984). Neuroepidemiology 5:159–170

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gallagher RP, Elwood JM, Threlfall WJ, Band PR, Spinelli JJ (1986) Occupation and risk of cutaneous melanoma. Am J Ind Med 9:289–294

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hazleton Laboratories (1986) Combined toxicity and oncogenicity study in rats with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Final report. Hazleton Laboratories America, Inc., Vienna, Virginia, 29 May 1986

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hoar SK, Blair A, Holmes FF, Boysen CD, Robel RJ, Hoover R, Fraumeni JF Jr (1986) Agricultural herbicide use and risk of lymphoma and soft-tissue sarcoma. JAMA 256:1141–1147

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. International Agency for Research on Cancer (1983) Miscellaneous pesticides. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risk Chem Hum 30

  18. International Agency for Research on Cancer (1987) Overall evaluations of carcinogenicity: an updating of IARC Monographs volumes 1 to 42 (Suppl 7). IARC, Lyon

    Google Scholar 

  19. International Agency for Research on Cancer (1991) Occupational exposures in insecticide application, and some pesticides. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risk Hum 53:45–92, 93–534

    Google Scholar 

  20. McLaughlin JK, Thomas TL, Stone BJ, Blot WJ, Malker HS, Weiner JA, Ericsson JL, Malker BK (1987) Occupational risks for meningiomas of the CNS in Sweden. J Occup Med 29:66–68

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. McLaughlin JK, Malker HS, Blot WJ, Malker BK, Stone BJ, Weiner JA, Ericsson JL, Fraumeni JF Jr (1987) Occupational risks for intracranial gliomas in Sweden. J Natl Cancer Inst 78:253–257

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Musicco M, Filippini G, Bordo BM, Melotto A, Morello G, Berrino F (1982) Gliomas, and occupational exposure to carcinogens: case-control study. Am J Epidemiol 116:782–790

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Musicco M, Sant M, Molinari S, Filippini G, Gatta G, Berrino F (1988) A case-control study of brain gliomas and occupational exposure to chemcial carcinogens: the risk to farmers. Am J Epidemiol 128:778–785

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. NSBHW. National Swedish Board of Health and Welfare (1986) Smoking habits in Sweden (in Swedish). Socialstyrelsen redovisar 1986:9. Socialstyrelsen, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pearce NE, Smith AH, Fisher DO (1985) Malignant lymphoma and multiple myeloma linked with agricultural occupations in a New Zealand cancer registry-based study. Am J Epidemiol 12:225–237

    Google Scholar 

  26. Pearce NE, Sheppard RA, Smith AH, Teague CA (1987) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and farming: an expanded case-control study. Int J Cancer 39:155–161

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Reif JS, Pearce N, Fraser J (1989): Occupational risks for brain cancer: a New Zealand cancer registry-based study. J Occup Med 31:863–867

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Saracci R, Kogevinas M, Bertazzi P-A, Bueno de Mesquita BH, Coggon D, Green LM, Kauppinen T, L'Abbé KA, Littorin M, Lynge E, Mathews JD, Neuberger M, Osman J, Pearce N, Winkelmann R (1991) Cancer mortality in workers exposed to chlorophenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols. Lancet 338:1027–1032

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Silverman DT, McLaughlin JK, Malker HSR, Weiner JA, Ericsson JLE (1989) Bladder cancer and occupation among Swedish women. Am J Ind Med 16:239–240

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Støttrup Hansen E, Hasle H, Lander F (1992) A cohort study on cancer incidence among. Danish gardeners. Am J Ind Med 21:651–660

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Swenberg JA (1982) Current approaches to the experimental investigation of chemicals in relation to cancer of the brain. Ann NY Acad Sci 381:43–49

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Thelin A (1988) The diseases of farmers (in Swedish). Lantbrukshälsan, Undersbkningsrapport 24/88. Lantbrukshälsan AB und Institutionen för stressforskning, Karolinska Institutet, Stockhom

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wicklung KG, Daling JR, Allard J, Weiss NS (1988) Respiratory cancer among orchardists in Washington State, 1968 to 1980. J Occup Med 30:561–564

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Wiklund K (1986) Cancer risks among agricultural workers in Sweden. Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm (Med. Diss.)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Wiklund K, Lindefors B-M, Holm L-E (1988) Risk of malignant lymphoma in Swedish agricultural and forestry workers. Br J Ind Med 45:19–24

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Wiklund K, Dich J, Holm L-E, Eklund G (1988) Risk of tumors of the nervous system among mercury and other seed disinfectant applicators in Swedish agriculture. Acta Oncol 27:865

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Wiklund K, Steineck G (1988) Cancer in the respiratory organs of Swedish farmers. Cancer 61:1055–1058

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Wiklund K, Dich J, Holm L-E (1989) Risk of soft tissue sarcoma, Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma among Swedish licensed pesticide applicators. Chemosphere 18:395–400

    Google Scholar 

  39. Wiklund K, Dich J, Holm L-E, Eklund G (1989) Risk of cancer in pesticide applicators in Swedish agriculture. Br J Ind Med 46:809–814

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Wingren G, Fredrikson M, Noorlind Brage H, Nordenskjöld B, Axelson O (1990) Soft tissue sarcoma and occupational exposures. Cancer 66:806–811

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Margareta Littorin, Robyn Attewell,  Staffan & Vibeke Horstmann

  2. Regional Tumour Registry, University Hospital, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Torgil Möller

Authors
  1. Margareta Littorin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robyn Attewell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Staffan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vibeke Horstmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Torgil Möller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Littorin, M., Attewell, R., Staffan et al. Mortality and tumour morbidity among Swedish market gardeners and orchardists. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 65, 163–169 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381152

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381152

Key words

Search

Navigation