Cancer mortality among butchers: a 24-state death certificate study.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to document cancer mortality among American butchers. Death certificates collected in 24 American states were used to calculate mortality odds ratios (ORs) and their confidence intervals (CIs) for 18,639 butchers. Butchers experienced an increased mortality of cancer of the oral cavity (OR, 1.40; 95% CI = 1.09-1.81), esophagus (OR, 1.19; 95% CI = 1.01-1.40), pharynx (OR, 1.22; 95% CI = 0.91-1.64), and larynx (OR, 1.19; 95% CI = 0.92-1.54), as well as a reduced mortality from melanoma (OR, 0.70; 95% CI = 0.52-0.94), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR, 0.82; 95% CI = 0.69-0.97), and breast cancer (OR, 0.76; 95% CI = 0.58-0.99). It is likely that occupational exposures experienced by butchers have contributed to the increased risk of cancers of the oral cavity and esophagus.