Causes of death among female chemists.

Abstract

A mortality odds ratio analysis of cause of death among 347 White female members of the American Chemical Society (ACS) revealed a five-fold excess of suicide, notably by cyanide poisoning. Risk was also elevated for all cancers combined and for cancers of the breast, ovary, stomach, pancreas, and lymphatic and hematopoietic system. The excess breast and ovary cancer deaths were limited to unmarried women.