Grant Number:	1R01CA101181-01 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Mills, Paul
Organization:	Public Health Institute
Project Title:	Cancer Incidence and Mortality in California Farmworkers
Fiscal Year:	2003

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad objectives of the proposed research are to measure cancer incidence and mortality in a cohort of farm workers in California (N=139,000) and to conduct nested case-control studies within the cohort in order to evaluate the association between work involving pesticide exposures and cancer risk. The objectives of this study will be accomplished using a variety of epidemiologic study designs. A computerized record linkage will be conducted between a roster of a largely Hispanic farm worker union (the United Farm Workers of America or the UFW) and the database of the California Cancer Registry (CCR) the population-based cancer registry which has monitored cancer incidence and mortality in California since 1988. Upon completion of the record linkages for both newly diagnosed cancers (1988-2000) and cancer deaths (1973-2000), risk of cancer for specific types of cancer will be evaluated in the UFW by calculating morbidity/mortality odds ratios using the California Hispanic population as the reference. In addition, variables such as stage and grade of disease at diagnosis, and histologic subtype of cancer will be evaluated, again comparing the experience of UFW members with cancer to the cancer experience of the California Hispanic population. After completion of the initial descriptive analyses, nested case-control studies will be conducted for several types of cancer including leukemia, brain, stomach and cervix cancer. Specifically, for each cancer case diagnosed among the membership of the UFW, incidence density controls will be selected form the remainder of the cohort. Occupational histories, including the nature of the crops and commodities in which individual cases and controls worked will be used as the exposure variables of interest. Data from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) will also be used to construct lob exposure matrices (JEM) for both cases and controls. Adjusted odds ratios will be calculated for several cancer sites evaluating particular pesticide exposure profiles as well as length of work in particular crops and commodities. Survival analyses will also be completed comparing the five-year relative survival of cancer in the UFW to the California Hispanic population.




Cancer in migrant and seasonal hired farm workers.
Authors: Mills P.K. , Dodge J. , Yang R. .
Source: Journal Of Agromedicine, 2009; 14(2), p. 185-91.
PMID: 19437276
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Cancer survival in California Hispanic farmworkers, 1988-2001.
Authors: Dodge J.L. , Mills P.K. , Riordan D.G. .
Source: The Journal Of Rural Health : Official Journal Of The American Rural Health Association And The National Rural Health Care Association, 2007 Winter; 23(1), p. 33-41.
PMID: 17300476
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Response to Commentary on "Agricultural exposures and gastric cancer risk in Hispanic farm workers in California" (Mills, P.K., and Yang, R.C., Environmental Research (2007) 104, 282-289).
Authors: Mills P.K. .
Source: Environmental Research, 2007-10-01 00:00:00.0; 105(2), p. 287-288.
PMID: 20852727
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Agricultural exposures and gastric cancer risk in Hispanic farm workers in California.
Authors: Mills P.K. , Yang R.C. .
Source: Environmental Research, 2007 Jun; 104(2), p. 282-9.
PMID: 17196584
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Control selection and pesticide exposure assessment via GIS in prostate cancer studies.
Authors: Marusek J.C. , Cockburn M.G. , Mills P.K. , Ritz B.R. .
Source: American Journal Of Preventive Medicine, 2006 Feb; 30(2 Suppl), p. S109-16.
PMID: 16458785
Related Citations

Proportionate mortality among current and former members of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO, in California 1973-2000.
Authors: Mills P.K. , Beaumont J.J. , Nasseri K. .
Source: Journal Of Agromedicine, 2006; 11(1), p. 39-48.
PMID: 16893836
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Lymphohematopoietic cancers in the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), 1988-2001.
Authors: Mills P.K. , Yang R. , Riordan D. .
Source: Cancer Causes & Control : Ccc, 2005 Sep; 16(7), p. 823-30.
PMID: 16132792
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