Cancer risk among agricultural workers
In 2010, the Cancer Registry of Norway and the Janus Bank were invited to participate in an international consortium of agricultural cohorts, AGRICOH. The overall research purpose is to study cancer risk among farmers and others with work in agriculture.
About the project
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Project period: 03.10.2011 - 30.06.2027 (Active)
- Coordinating Institution: Nowegian Institute of Public Health
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Project Manager:
- Hilde Langseth, Nowegian Institute of Public Health
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Project Participants:
- Ronnie Babigumira, Kreftregisteret, Nowegian Institute of Public Health
- Petter Kristensen, Ukjent, Ukjent institusjon
- Jenny Kristina Kjærheim, Nowegian Institute of Public Health
- Karl-Christian Nordby, Ukjent, Ukjent institusjon
Summary
The overarching research objective is to study cancer risk among farmers. In 2010, the Cancer Registry and the Janus Bank were invited to participate in an international consortium of agricultural cohorts, AGRICOH. Previous studies of farmers have shown a low risk for lifestyle-related cancers such as lung and colorectal cancer, and a high risk for leukemia and lymphoma, linked to specific exposures in agriculture. A significant proportion of donors in Janus have worked in agriculture, and the use of this sample material will give us the opportunity to study biomarkers for cancer. In this initial project, we will link various data sources to identify the number of Janus donors who have been agricultural workers, and describe the number of different cancer types distributed by gender, time of blood collection, and place of residence. In addition, we will conduct exposure assessments. This will form the basis for future projects in AGRICOH. A sub-goal is to study the relationship between lung cancer and endotoxin exposure.
Background
Previous studies of farmers have shown a low risk of lifestyle-related cancers such as lung and colon cancer, and a slightly elevated risk of leukemia and lymphoma, which may be linked to specific exposures in agriculture.
Links between the Janus serum bank, the agricultural census and the population and housing censuses in Statistics Norway show that about 40,000 of the donors in the Janus Bank have worked in agriculture. This cohort will form the basis for further studies of cancer biomarkers.