Mortality in the California Farmer Health Study Cohort

Abstract

Western agriculture, in comparison with Midwestern and Eastern, is more diverse, with a drier climate, mild winters, and different exposures. This randomly selected cohort of 1947 Californian farmers confirmed the usual finding: a lower mortality rate than general population (by 50%). A low smoking prevalence and healthy worker effect are likely contributors. Although farmers were more likely to die from injuries and skin cancer, death was less likely from Alzheimer's and cerebrovascular diseases. Within the cohort, disability and persistent wheeze were associated with increased mortality. The 200 deaths were insufficient to determine the significance of rare diseases.

Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Seawater and Plankton from the Northwestern Atlantic Margin

“…Poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of more than 4700 anthropogenic chemicals that have been widely produced since the 1950s for diverse commercial and industrial applications. [1][2][3] Human exposures to PFAS have been associated with adverse health effects such as immune suppression and metabolic disruption. 4 Seafood consumption is a major pathway for PFAS exposure, accounting for 86% of mean chronic adult exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) according to the 2018 review by the European Food Safety Authority.…”

“…Prior modeling work 1,23,25 has aimed to better understand PFAS transport and accumulation over large spatial and temporal scales. Given a lack of observational constraints, most modeling simulations have assumed transport of PFAS from terrestrial ecosystems to the ocean generally occurs within a year (Table S5) 23 or that mixing with seawater occurs instantaneously following continental releases.…”

Socioeconomic Status and Childhood Asthma in Urban Minority Youths. The GALA II and SAGE II Studies

“…However, Latinos often have better health outcomes compared with other minority groups and have health outcomes that are similar to their non-Hispanic white counterparts (4,5). The healthy migrant effect (6,7), cultural characteristics (8,9), and acculturation (10)(11)(12) have been used to help explain this paradox. The "Hispanic paradox" may explain the low asthma prevalence and less severe disease seen in Mexican Americans (13).…”

Symptoms of depression and all-cause mortality in farmers, a cohort study: the HUNT study, Norway

“… 1 Lower overall mortality for farmers has also been shown in studies from Sweden, 2 3 France 4 and the USA. 5 6 The mortality in Norwegian farmers was lower than in the average population from 1960 to 2000, although the difference in mortality rates decreased over the time period. 7 This lower mortality rate may, at least in part, be due to lifestyle factors such as lower rates of smoking, low intake of alcohol and regular physical activity.…”

“… 7 This lower mortality rate may, at least in part, be due to lifestyle factors such as lower rates of smoking, low intake of alcohol and regular physical activity. 2–4 6 In some studies, however, it has been argued against this possible healthier lifestyle. 8 Less pronounced social inequality in rural farming communities could reduce psychological stress, which poses another possible salutogenic factor.…”