Cancer mortality patterns among hairdressers and barbers in 24 US states, 1984 to 1995

We evaluated cancer mortality patterns among hairdressers and barbers, acco rding to occupation, coded on 7.2 million death certificates in 24 states f rom 1984 to 1995. Of the 38,721 deaths among white and black hairdressers a nd barbers of both sexes, 9495 were from all malignant neoplasms. Mortality odds ratios were significantly elevated for all malignant neoplasms, lung cancer, and all lymphatic and hemopoietic cancers among black and white fem ale hairdressers. White female hairdressers had significant excess mortalit y from cancers of the stomach, colon, pancreas, breast, and bladder and fro m non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lymphoid leukemia; mortality from these cancer s was also elevated among black female hairdressers. White male hairdresser s had significantly elevated mortality from non-melanoma skin cancer and no n-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Mortality from all malignant neoplasms, although sign ificantly elevated among both white and black female hairdressers, was sign ificantly below the null for white male hairdressers. Black and white male barbers had significantly elevated mortality from stomach and pharyngeal ca ncer, respectively. A significant deficit in mortality from all neoplasms a nd cancers of the pancreas, lung, and prostate was noted for white male bar bers. This large study of cancer mortality among hairdressers and barbers s howed some differences in mortality patterns by gender and race. Further st udies are required to determine if specific occupational exposures may expl ain some of the elevated cancer rates.