[Increased Mortality from Esophageal Cancer, Stomach Cancer and Skin Melanoma in Pesticide-exposed Pest Control Operators in the DDR]

A retrospective mortality study on male pest control workers of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was undertaken to evaluate the association of exposure to pesticides and development of malignant tumors. The cohort encompassed 1,214 male subjects with at least 5 years pest control work between 1945 and 1980. Informations on causes of death and cancer cases were obtained from death certificates and the cancer registry form. As control cohort for the standardized mortality ratios (SMR) served the general male population of the GDR. The SMR of 133 for the category of malignant tumors in the pesticide exposed cohort was significantly elevated. Among the other causes of death categories the SMR was less than 100. The tumor excess was statistically significant for the following tumor sites: esophagus, SMR = 430 (4 observed vs. 0.9 expected); stomach, SMR = 180 (14 observed vs. 7.8 expected) and skin melanoma, SMR = 588 (2 observed vs. 0.3 expected). Mortality from stomach cancer showed a linear rising trend by number of years licensed (less than 10 years, SMR = 118; 10-19 = 160; greater than 19 years, SMR = 260). The data suggest an etiological link between the pesticide exposure and increased mortality of esophagus cancer, stomach cancer and skin melanoma.