Causes of death among lumberjacks--a pilot study.

Causes of death among 375 union-affiliated male lumberjacks throughout Sweden were studied. The proportional mortality rates for ischemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, all other circulatory diseases, violent death, all cancers and "other causes" were compared to the general Swedish [male] mortality pattern. There was a significantly elevated mortality from violent death and a slight numerical excess of deaths due to ischemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and all other circulatory diseases. There were fewer deaths than expected for cancer and "other causes." A case-referent type of analysis showed an increased standard mortality ratio for kidney cancer and cancer of the lymphatic and hematopoietic system.