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Prostate cancer in pesticide applicators in Swedish agriculture
Author(s) -
Dich Jan,
Wiklund Kerstin
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0045(19980201)34:2<100::aid-pros4>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - prostate cancer , medicine , cohort , prostate , confidence interval , cancer , cohort study , relative risk , standardized mortality ratio , incidence (geometry) , risk assessment , gynecology , oncology , physics , computer security , computer science , optics
BACKGROUND The use of chemicals in agriculture has been associated with elevated risks of prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze prostate cancer risk in a cohort of 20,025 pesticide applicators in agriculture licensed between 1965–1976. METHODS The cohort was followed up in the Swedish Cancer Register from date of licence until death or December 31, 1991. The mean follow‐up time was 21.3 years. RESULTS We found a statistically significant increased risk of prostate cancer with 401 cases observed compared to 355 expected, with a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 1.13 (95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.24). There were 7 cases among those born in 1935 or later, and the SIR was 2.03 (0.82–4.19). For those born earlier than 1935 the SIR was 1.12 (1.01–1.24). CONCLUSIONS These findings of a statistically significant increased risk of prostate cancer, together with recent results from other studies, imply a relationship between agrochemicals or other risk factors in the environment of farmers and prostate cancer. Prostate 34:100–112, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.