[General and oncologic morbidity in Moscow municipal transport drivers]

A case study was undertaken to examine general and cancer mortality rates and cancer morbidity among municipal transport drivers in Moscow. The mortality and cancer morbidity in 1969 to 1988 were followed up among 2528 men and 212 women. In this period, male mortality rates due to malignant neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases and all causes taken together were statistically lower than the expected rates. Male cancer morbidity rates were also lower the expected ones. In the past decade 42 cases of gastric cancer were revealed in the cohort, which was statistically greater than the expected figures (29.8). In the first decade, prostatic cancer mortality was statistically significantly higher in bus drivers with length of service of over 20 years. Among women, there were only 12 deaths, with significantly decreased mortality rates. Esophageal cancer was detected in women who had worked as drivers for 20-29 years. The lower morbidity and mortality rates may be associated with the "healthy worker effect", i.e. with the fact that staff is strictly selected for this job.