MORTALITY AND TUMOR MORBIDITY AMONG SWEDISH MARKET GARDENERS AND ORCHARDISTS

In order to investigate possible effects of exposure to pesticides, ma inly fungicides and insecticides, we studied a cohort of 2370 subjects , who, during the period 1965-1982, had been members of a horticulturi sts' trade association (market gardeners and orchardists). Compared to a regional reference population, total mortality (542 deaths; standar dized mortality morbidity ratio, SMR = 0.8; 95% confidence limits, CLs = 0.7, 0.9) and mortality due to malignant tumours (133 deaths, SMR = 0.9; CLs = 0.7, 1.0), and cardiovascular and respiratory deaths were somewhat decreased. Suggestive excesses in mortality were seen for men tal disorders and tumours of the stomach, skin and nervous system. The tumours of the nervous system were in particular excess in the young and middle-aged horticulturists (below age 60; six cases, SMR = 2.9; C Ls = 1.1, 6.2). During the period 19651986, the total tumour morbidity was slightly decreased (255 cases; SMR = 0.9; CLs = 0.8, 1.0), as wer e gastrointestinal and respiratory tract tumours. The incidence of mel anomas was increased (1 5 cases, SMR = 2. 1; CLs = 1.2, 3.5), and tumo urs of the female genital organs, myelomas, and brain tumours (12 case s, SMR = 1.5; CLs = 0.8, 2.7) were slightly numerically elevated. Brai n tumours in the young and middle-aged horticulturists (11 cases, SMR = 3.2; CLs = 1. 6, 5.7), including meningiomas (four observed, SMR = 6 .8; CLs = 1. 9, 17.4), were increased, especially in the period 1975-1 979. The mortality and tumour morbidity patterns in gardeners and orch ardists, analysed separately, were similar to the patterns in all the horticulturists. The risk for brain tumours in the young and middle-ag ed subjects was increased about threefold in the gardeners, and about fivefold in the orchardists; in particular, meningiomas were in excess among the gardeners.