Article

National Health Interview Survey mortality among US farmers and pesticide applicators

  1. Lora E. Fleming MD, PhD1,*,
  2. Orlando Gómez-Marín PhD, MSc1,2,
  3. Diane Zheng MS1,
  4. Fangchao Ma MD1,
  5. David Lee PhD1

Article first published online: 22 JAN 2003

DOI: 10.1002/ajim.10162

Issue

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Volume 43, Issue 2, pages 227–233, February 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Fleming, L. E., Gómez-Marín, O., Zheng, D., Ma, F. and Lee, D. (2003), National Health Interview Survey mortality among US farmers and pesticide applicators. Am. J. Ind. Med., 43: 227–233. doi: 10.1002/ajim.10162

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida

  2. 2

    Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida

*Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 200, Highland Professional Building, Miami, Florida, 33136.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 JAN 2003
  2. Article first published online: 22 JAN 2003
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 12 SEP 2002

Funded by

  • NIOSH-funded Deep South Agricultural Center (University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida)
  • NIOSH. Grant Number: R01 0H03915-01

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Keywords:

  • cancer mortality;
  • mortality;
  • farmers;
  • pesticide applicators;
  • National Health Interview Survey

Abstract

Background

The mortality experience of pesticide-exposed workers across the US has not been thoroughly studied.

Methods

Cox regression mortality analyses adjusted for the complex sample survey design were performed on mortality-linked 1986–1994 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data.

Results

Nine thousand four hundred seventy-one farmers and pesticide applicators with 571 deaths were compared to 438,228 other US workers with 11,992 deaths. Age-adjusted risk of accidental death, as well as cancers of the nervous and lymphatic/hematopoietic systems, was significantly elevated in male and female pesticide-exposed workers; breast, prostate, and testicular cancer mortality risks were not elevated.

Conclusions

Compared to all other workers, farmers and pesticide applicators were at greater risk of accidental mortality. These pesticide-exposed workers were not at an increased risk of cancers possibly associated with exposure to estrogen analogue compounds, but were at an increased risk of hematopoietic and nervous system cancers. NHIS mortality follow-up represents an important occupational health surveillance instrument. Am. J. Ind. Med. 43: 227–233, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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