MORTALITY AMONG FINNISH SEA PILOTS 1956-85 - A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

The National Board of Navigation in Finland employed 942 sea pilots in 1956-85, during which time 262 of them died (SMR = 77, 95% CI = 68-86 ). The male population in southwest Finland served as control. The cau ses of deaths were collected from death certificates. The mortality ra te for all cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer was lower among sea pilots than in the comparison population (SMR = 83, 95% = CI 69-97 an d SMR = 67, 95% CI = 37-97) while for ischaemic heart diseases, it was similar to that of the population as a whole (SMR = 96, 95% CI = 77-1 15). Health selection due to ischaemic heart disease was seen in the l ower mortality rates among young pilots who started work in 1956-85. O therwise, the slightly higher rates may indicate a possibility oi adve rse health effects of sea piloting.