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Mortality among Icelandic seamen
1Department of Occupational Medicine, Administration of Occupational Safety and Health, Reykjavik, Iceland.
International Journal of Epidemiology
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Icelandic seamen exhibit an unusual mortality pattern, with elevated risks for several cancers and unknown causes. Occupational links to increased cancer deaths were not definitively confirmed.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Investigating mortality patterns in Icelandic seamen.
- Focusing on cancer-specific mortality.
- Examining a cohort of fishermen and merchant fleet sailors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the mortality rates of Icelandic seamen.
- To specifically assess cancer deaths within this occupational group.
- To identify potential occupational health risks.
Main Methods:
- Cohort study design.
- Follow-up of 27,884 seamen (1958-1986).
- Calculation of standardized mortality ratios (SMRs).
Main Results:
- Elevated SMRs for all causes (1.26), all malignant neoplasms (1.13), liver (1.80), stomach (1.19), lung (1.56), and kidney cancer (1.21).
- Highest SMR observed for unknown causes (3.16).
- No 'healthy worker effect' noted; strong correlation between latency time and mortality for most causes.
Conclusions:
- Seamen display a unique mortality profile, including a notable excess of deaths from unknown causes.
- While stomach and lung cancer rates were high, a clear occupational link was not established.
- Further investigation is needed to understand the excess mortality from unknown causes in this population.
Keywords:
BehaviorCancerCauses Of DeathDemographic FactorsDeveloped CountriesDifferential MortalityDiseasesEconomic FactorsEmployment StatusEuropeExcess Mortality--determinantsIcelandLife StyleMortalityNeoplasmsNorthern EuropeOccupational StatusPopulationPopulation DynamicsScandinaviaSmokingSocioeconomic FactorsSocioeconomic Status