Occupational Mortality Patterns among British Columbia Farm Workers

Abstract

To examine mortality risks for farm laborers proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) were calculated for 2,328 British Columbia farm workers who died at age 20years or over during the period 1950 through 1978. Significantly fewer deaths than expected from degenerative heart disease (PMR = 91, p < .01) and from all cancers combined (PMR = 78, p < .001) were observed. Deaths from bronchitis and emphysema (PMR = 70, p < .05) were also fewer than anticipated. Elevated risks of death were found for accidents (PMR = 129, p < .001), for homicide (PMR = 242, p < .01), and for pneumonia (PMR = 146, p < .001).