Cancer mortality risks for Wisconsin white male farmers were examined
during the years 1981 to 1990. Four malignancies were studied: Non-Hod
gkin's lymphoma, melanoma, Colon cancer, and rectal cancer. Occupation
coded deaths were segmented into farmer and nonfarmer groups and popu
lation counts for the groups were estimated from 1980 and 1990 Bureau
of the Census data. Standardized mortality ratios (SMXs) were construc
ted from tile ratio of observed farmer deaths and the expected number
of farmer deaths. Expected deaths were generated from the underlying s
tatewide nonfarmer rate for the malignancy multiplied into the farmer
population at risk. Farmers had significantly lower mortality risks fo
r melanoma (SMR: 0.659; 95% CI: 0.993-0.326) and colon cancel (SMR: 0.
763; 95% CI: 0.928-0.599). Farmers also exhibited a nonsignificant dec
rement for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SMR: 0.930; 95% CI: 1.214-0.645). F
or rectal cancer, farmers experience a slightly higher but essentially
the same risk as nonfarmers (SMR: 1.013; 95% CI: 1.418-0.608) - the S
MR was not significant. This study corroborates a number of cancer inc
idence and mortality investigations demonstrating that farmers general
ly experience the same or lower mortality risks for these malignancies
.