MORTALITY AND CANCER INCIDENCE AMONG SWEDISH FISHERMEN WITH A HIGH DIETARY-INTAKE OF PERSISTENT ORGANOCHLORINE COMPOUNDS

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine mortality and cancer incidence in two cohorts of Swedish fishermen with different di etary intakes of persistent organochlorine compounds. Methods The foll owing two cohorts of Swedish fishermen were established: a cohort of 2 896 subjects from the Swedish east coast (on the Baltic Sea), and a co hort of 8477 subjects from the Swedish west coast. Mortality and cance r incidence were studied in these cohorts and comparisons were made bo th with the regional populations and between the cohorts. Results The incidences of stomach and squamous cell skin cancers among the eastcoa st fishermen were elevated as compared with those of the regional popu lation [standardized incidence ratio (SIR) 1.6, 95% confidence interva l (95% CI) 1.0-2.4 and SIR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5-3.5 respectively] and with the westcoast cohort (IRR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.5 and IRR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2- 3.1, respectively), while that of colon cancer was decreased. Moreover , mortality from multiple myelomas was increased among the eastcoast f ishermen as compared with that of the general population [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 3.1, 95% CI 1.2-6.4) and the westcoast fisherme n (IRR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2-8.7). A 12% decreased mortality in ischemic hea rt disease was found for the eastcoast cohort. A slight, but significa nt increase in such deaths was noted among the westcoast fishermen. Co nclusions High consumers of fatty fish, contaminated with organochlori ne compounds, had an increased risk for stomach and skin cancer. They also had a suggestive decrease in mortality from ischemic heart diseas es.