| Pesticides are chemicals used since ancient times to destroy or control pests. Although the primary hazard to humans associated with pesticide exposure is acute poisoning, there has been considerable concern surrounding the possibility of cancer and other chronic health effects in humans. Given the huge volume of pesticides now used throughout the world, as well as environmental and food residue contamination leading to chronic low-level exposure, the study of possible chronic human health effects is important.;This study is a retrospective cohort analysis of the cancer incidence and general mortality among a cohort of Florida licensed pesticide applicators. In addition, proportional mortality (PMR) studies and mortality odds ratio (MOR) studies were performed. Comparison groups consisted of the general Florida population and subgroups from a National Cancer Institute pooled worker cohort.;In this cohort of 33,669 Florida licensed pesticide applicators assembled through extensive data linkages, there were a total of 1874 deaths and 1266 incident cancer cases with 320,250 person-years from 1/1/75 to 1/1/94. Using a variety of analysis methodologies, the pesticide applicators are consistently and significantly healthier compared to the general Florida population and the NCI occupational database. As with many occupational cohorts, the risk of cardiovascular disease and of diseases associated with ethanol and tobacco use are significantly decreased, even in the subpopulations.;Among male applicators as seen in prior studies, Prostate cancer mortality (SMR = 2.38 (95% Confidence Interval = 1.83-3.04)) and incidence (1.92 (1.73-2.14)) and Testicular cancer incidence (SMR = 2.49 (1.58-3.74)) were significantly elevated. There were no confirmed cases of soft tissue sarcoma in this cohort of pesticide applicators, and non Hodgkins lymphoma was not increased; these findings are at odds with prior literature associating the use of the phenoxy herbicides with an increased risk of both these cancers. The number of female applicators was relatively small, as was the numbers of deaths and incident cancer cases. Nevertheless, Cervical cancer incidence (3.71 (1.85-6.64)) was significantly increased; Breast cancer incidence and mortality were not elevated. Additional subcohort and exposure analyses were performed. |
