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Cancer mortality in the U.S. flour industry
M C Alavanja1, A Blair, M N Masters
1Division of Cancer Etiology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
|May 16, 1990
Summary
Grain mill workers experienced lower overall mortality but showed increased risks for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), leukemia, and pancreatic cancer. These elevated risks were concentrated in flour mill workers, particularly those in maintenance or elevator departments.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Assessed mortality among 22,938 white male grain millers from 1955-1985.
- Compared observed deaths to expected deaths in the general U.S. white male population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cancer risks, specifically non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), leukemia, and pancreatic cancer, in grain mill workers.
- To identify specific work areas or exposures associated with elevated cancer risks.
Main Methods:
- Cohort mortality analysis.
- Nested case-control analysis.
- Calculation of standardized mortality ratios (SMR) and odds ratios (OR).
Main Results:
- Overall mortality was lower than expected (SMR = 89).
- Excess risks for NHL (SMR = 149), leukemia (SMR = 136), and pancreatic cancer (SMR = 133) were found in flour mill workers.
- In flour mills, NHL risk was highest for maintenance (OR = 8.1) and elevator (OR = 2.8) departments.
Conclusions:
- Flour mill workers face elevated risks for specific cancers, likely linked to pesticide use.
- Maintenance and elevator departments warrant further investigation for potential exposures contributing to NHL risk.