[Mortality and cancer risk in agricultural nursery workers: a cohort study in Tuscany Region (Central Italy)]

Sandra Fabbri; Sara Piro; Angela Veraldi; Deanna Govoni; Barbara Cortini; Massimo Barbani; Andrea Innocenti; Aldo Fedi; Giorgia Stoppa; Lucia Miligi

doi:10.19191/EP21.4.P254.081

[Mortality and cancer risk in agricultural nursery workers: a cohort study in Tuscany Region (Central Italy)]

Epidemiol Prev. 2021 Jul-Aug;45(4):254-262. doi: 10.19191/EP21.4.P254.081.

[Article in Italian]

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Fondazione ONLUS Attilia Pofferi, Pistoia.
² SS epidemiologia dell'ambiente e del lavoro, SC epidemiologia dei fattori di rischio e degli stili di vita, Istituto per lo studio, la prevenzione e la rete oncologica (ISPRO), Firenze.
³ Prevenzione igiene e sicurezza nei luoghi di lavoro, Dipartimento di prevenzione, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Zona Pistoiese.
⁴ Centro di riferimento regionale prevenzione igiene e sicurezza nel florovivaismo (CRRFV), Dipartimento di prevenzione, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Zona Pistoiese.
⁵ SS epidemiologia dell'ambiente e del lavoro, SC epidemiologia dei fattori di rischio e degli stili di vita, Istituto per lo studio, la prevenzione e la rete oncologica (ISPRO), Firenze; l.miligi@ispro.toscana.it.

PMID: 34549567
DOI: 10.19191/EP21.4.P254.081

Abstract

Objectives: to follow-up mortality of agricultural nursery workers of the province of Pistoia (Tuscany Region, Central Italy).

Design: the cohort of nursery workers of the Pistoia province was assembled from two sources: subjects who obtained a pesticide license (PAT) and subjects who had been working in agricultural nursery, based on the 2003 regional census (LIF). Vital status and causes of deaths were ascertained through the official records of the municipalities and the Tuscany Mortality Register. The follow-up period for PAT cohort was from 01.01.1984 to 31.12.2015 and for LIF cohort was from 01.01.2003 al 31.12.2015.

Setting and participants: the total cohort included 2,732 males and 326 females: the PAT cohort included 1,602 males and 106 females, and the LIF cohort included 1,130 males and 220 females MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: general and cause-specific Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the entire cohort and for the PAT and LIF sub-cohorts. Expected deaths by age and gender for each cause of death were obtained from applying the respective rates in the Tuscan population.

Results: overall mortality was lower than expected, with notable deficits for all cancers and some specific causes in both genders. Among males, increased SMRs were observed for pancreas (17 observed cases: SMR 129; CI95% 75-207), prostate (22 cases: SMR 121; CI95% 76-183), bladder (18 cases: SMR 139; CI95% 83-220) cancer, and also for multiple myeloma (5 cases: SMR 120; CI95% 39-281). Among females, increased SMR for cancer of digestive system and peritoneum was observed (3 cases: SMR 152; IC95% 31-445). The analyses by calendar period also shown excess for cancers of the genital and urinary system and the lymphohematopoietic system.

Conclusions: although overall deficits for all causes and all cancer were observed, there were notable exceptions for some specific cancer causes, that might be related to pesticides exposure.

Keywords: Agricultural nursery workers; Agriculture; Cancer; Cohort study; Pesticides.

MeSH terms

Cause of Death
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Italy / epidemiology
Male
Neoplasms*
Occupational Diseases* / epidemiology
Occupations