[Cancer mortality according to occupation]

Abstract

The 55 profession groups, fully enclosing the male population of Switzerland, can be adjoined to a cancer risk category, according to their absolute and proportional mortality rate from 1979 to 1983 (age standardized for 35- to 74-years old). Lung-cancer mortality is for all building trade professions, even for building engineer and truck drivers, three times higher as for professions asking school-leaving examination. The carcinoma of the superior digestion tract and the bladder follow this falling incidence, while the opposite, profession specific falling incidence being shown by colon and rectum cancers and by the tumours of the lymphatic tissue and the prostata. Deduction of the results is cancer prevention: this should be carried out by a general, profession-orientated furtherance.