Agricultural life-style: a mortality study among male farmers in South Carolina, 1983-1984
Une, H.; Schuman, S.H.; Caldwell, S.T.; Whitlock, N.H.
Southern Medical Journal 80(9): 1137-1140
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0038-4348 PMID: 3629318 Document Number: 294136
After reviewing the death certificates of 2820 South Carolina agricultural workers (including farmers, farm workers and others in the agricultural industry) aged 35 to 84 during 1983-84, proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) were calculated. Among both white and non-white farmers, the PMR was significantly higher for cerebrovascular disease (whites, PMR = 1.20, P < 0.05; non-whites, PMR = 1.43, P < 0.001) and lower for all malignant neoplasms (whites, PMR = 0.86, P < 0.05; non-whites, PMR = 0.78, P < 0.001). In addition, external causes of death were elevated, attaining statistical significance for white farmers (PMR = 1.51, P < 0.001). Significantly lower PMRs for all malignant neoplasms are attributed to fewer deaths from cancers related to smoking (buccal cavity and pharynx, oesophagus, lung and bladder) and colon and rectal cancers among both white and non-white farmers. White farmers did not show significantly elevated PMRs for cancers of the lymphatic and haematopoietic systems found in other studies in the mid-west USA. The data suggested that agricultural life-style could be improved for the prevention of strokes and for external causes of death, including exposure to pesticides.