Journal article
Health impacts of pesticide exposure in a cohort of outdoor workers
Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol.111(5), pp.724-730
2003
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Abstract
<p>We compared mortality of 1,999 outdoor staff working as part of an insecticide application program during 1935-1996 with that of 1,984 outdoor workers not occupationally exposed to insecticides, and with the Australian population. Surviving subjects also completed a morbidity questionnaire. Mortality was significantly higher in both exposed and control subjects compared with the Australian population. The major cause was mortality from smoking-related diseases. Mortality was also significantly increased in exposed subjects for a number of conditions that do not appear to be the result of smoking patterns. Compared with the general Australian population, mortality over the total study period was increased for asthma [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 3.45; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.39-7.10] and for diabetes (SMR = 3.57; 95% CI, 1.16-8.32 for subjects working < 5 years). Mortality from pancreatic cancer was more frequent in subjects exposed to 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (SMR = 5.27; 95% CI, 1.09-15.40 for subjects working < 3 years). Compared with the control population, mortality from leukemia was increased in subjects working with more modern chemicals (standardized incidence ratio = 20.90; 95% CI, 1.54-284.41 for myeloid leukemia in the highest exposure group). There was also an increase in self-reported chronic illness and asthma, and lower neuropsychologic functioning scores among surviving exposed subjects when compared with controls. Diabetes was reported more commonly by subjects reporting occupational use of herbicides. These findings lend weight to other studies suggesting an association between adverse health effects and exposure to pesticides.</p>
Details
- Title
- Health impacts of pesticide exposure in a cohort of outdoor workers
- Creators
- John R BeardTim Bruce Sladden - Southern Cross UniversityGeoffrey Morgan - Southern Cross UniversityGeoffrey Berry - University of SydneyLyndon O Brooks - Southern Cross UniversityAnthony McMichael - Australian National University
- Publication Details
- Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol.111(5), pp.724-730
- Identifiers
- 1072; 991012821835702368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Business, Law and Arts; Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research; School of Arts and Social Sciences; Creative Arts
- Resource Type
- Journal article