Population-based study of cancer mortality rates by detailed occupation among US working-age adults

Cancer mortality rates for some cnacer types are rising among working-age adults. A population-based study aimed to generate cancer mortality rates by sex, cancer type, and detailed occupation among working-age (20-64 years) adults in the USA.Amont 450,453 total cancer deaths, the average annual age-adjusted cancer mortality rate per 100,000 working-age US residents was 55.2 among males and 49.1 among females. The highest overall mortality rates per 100,000 by detailed occupation shared across both sexes were fishing and hunting workers (167.4 for males and 143.9 for females), mining machine operators (126.6 for males and 127.0 for females), funeral directors (112.7 for males and 152.8 for females), animal trainers (117.3 for males and 110.5 for females), and dieticians and nutritionists (111.4 for males and 110.5 for females). Eighteen of 428 occupations accounted for 26.7% of all male cancer deaths, and two of 377 occupations accounted for 6.5% of all female cancer deaths. The authors conclude that US cancer mortality rates among working adults vary substantially by sex, occupation, and cancer sites, suggesting workplace-related exposures beyond carcinogens.