While farm living may increase chances of living longer, it may also introduce people to rare cancers.
At a rural health and safety conference held in Saskatoon last week, Aaron Blair of the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, talked about cancer risks in rural and agricultural populations and how farmers are more likely to develop certain rare cancers.
Blair examines environmental and work-related exposures in farm work, which may be linked to the development of cancer.
With a majority of their work done outdoors, farmers are exposed to a variety of weather conditions, sunlight in particular, and are in contact with herbicides and pesticides that may be factors in cancer.
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According to Blair, studies have shown farmers have a lower risk of developing lung cancer than people in urban centres, but noted seven cancers have a higher rate among rural residents: lip, stomach, brain, prostate, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and skin cancer.
“I think what might be going on is, a number of different exposures in the agricultural environment (chemicals) appear to have effects on the immune system and most of these cancers appear to increase when the immune system is compromised,” Blair speculated, adding that tests have not been conclusive.
Harmful agents can enter the body through inhalation and touch. Blair said the best preventive measures are masks, gloves and washing exposed body parts.
Studies similar to Blair’s are also being done in Canada at the University of Saskatchewan.
“Many farmers think because herbicides kill weeds, they will not be affected by them,” said Helen McDuffie, a researcher at the Centre for Agricultural Medicine at the university. “But they still need to wear protective gear.”
McDuffie studies the effects pesticides have on the environment and people, focusing on non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
She said because farmers are living longer than they used to, the risk of developing cancer is greater.
As well, continuous exposure to ultraviolet rays and improper gear are why farmers have a greater risk of developing skin and lip cancers.
Through the university’s health extension programs, McDuffie informs farmers about the importance of using sunscreen, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and hats.
Researchers at the university are working on a national study involving non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, soft-tissue sarcoma, and their connection to pesticides. Results are expected sometime in 1999.
While most of the studies have focused on men, both McDuffie and Blair said the cancers, excluding the gender specific, are just as likely to develop in rural women.
