WISCONSIN FARMER CANCER MORTALITY, 1981 TO 1990 - SELECTED MALIGNANCIES

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 .