CANCER AND NONCANCER RISK TO WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE AND PEST-CONTROL - THE AGRICULTURAL HEALTH STUDY

The Argicultural Health Study is a collaborative effort involving the National Cancer Institute, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. A goal of th is investigation is to establish a large cohort of men and women that can be followed prospectively for 10 years or more to evaluate the rol e of agricultural exposures in the development of cancer, neurologic d isease, reproductive difficulties, childhood developmental problems, a nd other chronic diseases. The study also will provide an opportunity to assess the role that diet, cooking methods, and other lifestyle fac tors have on the cause of cancer and other diseases. The cohort will b e composed of approximately 112,000 adult study subjects, including 42 ,000 women, making this one of the largest cohorts of women ever assem bled for an epidemiologic investigation of environmental and occupatio nal exposures. Children of farm families also will be enrolled. The st udy will be conducted in Iowa and North Carolina. Enrollment will begi n in December 1993 and continue for 3 years.