CANCER MORTALITY AMONG RICE GROWERS IN NOVARA PROVINCE, NORTHERN ITALY

Some excess of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and soft tissue sarcomas (S TS) was reported in the literature among agricultural workers, mainly in relation to exposure to phenoxyacids and chlorophenols. In this stu dy, information was analyzed for a cohort of rice growers that compris ed 1,493 subjects, and for a follow-up that was more than 99% complete with regard to both traced subjects and known causes of deaths. A tot al of 960 subjects (65%) died during the observation period (1957-1992 ). Lower than expected standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were found for all causes, for cardiovascular diseases (especially ischemic hear t disease) and for all cancers. Slightly increased SMRs were found for some cancer sites (oral cavity, esophagus, liver intestines, pancreas , bladder STS, and NHL), although none of these was statistically sign ificant in the overall analysis. An excess risk of close to statistica l significance was found for NHL among workers with longer exposure du ring the period when phenoxyacid herbicide was in use (1950-1992). Thu s, a prolonged follow-up is advisable. At present the study should be evaluated in the context of the data set suggesting a tendency toward an increased risk of NHL among farmers. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.