Journal article
Mortality in the agricultural health study, 1993-2007
American journal of epidemiology, Vol.173(1), pp.71-83
01/01/2011
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwq323
PMCID: PMC3025641
PMID: 21084556
Abstract
Comparing agricultural cohorts with the general population is challenging because the general healthiness of farmers may mask potential adverse health effects of farming. Using data from the Agricultural Health Study, a cohort of 89,656 pesticide applicators and their spouses (N = 89, 656) in North Carolina and Iowa, the authors computed standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) comparing deaths from time of the enrollment (1993-1997) through 2007 to state-specific rates. To compensate for the cohort's overall healthiness, relative SMRs were estimated by calculating the SMR for each cause relative to the SMR for all other causes. In 1,198,129 person-years of follow-up, 6,419 deaths were observed. The all-cause mortality rate was less than expected (SMR(applicators) = 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52, 0.55; SMR(spouses) = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.55). SMRs for all cancers, heart disease, and diabetes were significantly below 1.0. In contrast, applicators experienced elevated numbers of machine-related deaths (SMR = 4.15, 95% CI: 3.18, 5.31), motor vehicle nontraffic accidents (SMR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.81, 4.14), and collisions with objects (SMR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.25, 3.34). In the relative SMR analysis for applicators, the relative mortality ratio was elevated for lymphohematopoietic cancers, melanoma, and digestive system, prostate, kidney, and brain cancers. Among spouses, relative SMRs exceeded 1.0 for lymphohematopoietic cancers and malignancies of the digestive system, brain, breast, and ovary. Unintentional fatal injuries remain an important risk for farmers; mortality ratios from several cancers were elevated relative to other causes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Mortality in the agricultural health study, 1993-2007
- Creators
- Jenna K Waggoner - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USAGreg J KullmanPaul K HennebergerDavid M UmbachAaron BlairMichael C R AlavanjaFreya KamelCharles F LynchCharles KnottStephanie J LondonCynthia J HinesKent W ThomasDale P SandlerJay H LubinLaura E Beane FreemanJane A Hoppin
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American journal of epidemiology, Vol.173(1), pp.71-83
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1093/aje/kwq323
- PMID
- 21084556
- PMCID
- PMC3025641
- ISSN
- 1476-6256
- eISSN
- 1476-6256
- Grant note
- Z01-CP010119 / NCI NIH HHS Z01 CP010119 / Intramural NIH HHS Z01 ES049030 / Intramural NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2011
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology
- Record Identifier
- 9983995143202771
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