Occupational exposures and laryngeal cancer among non-smoking and non-drinking men

Int J Occup Environ Health. 2009 Oct-Dec;15(4):370-3. doi: 10.1179/oeh.2009.15.4.370.

Abstract

In a previous hospital-based case-control study, we found an association between laryngeal cancer and exposure to occupational silica, cotton dust, diesel exhaust, gasoline exhaust, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). We evaluated the data further to investigate risks from occupational exposure among non-smoking and non-alcohol drinking (NSND) men. We analyzed 189 male NSND primary laryngeal cancer cases and 536 NSND controls. Case group included 86 supraglottic (45.5%), 47 glottic (24.9%), and 56 subglottic and non-classified tumors (29.6%). Age-adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for occupational exposure. The most prevalent exposures among cases were PAH (40.7%), diesel exhaust (29.1%), and solvents (24.9%). An excess of laryngeal cancer occurred with silica (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-13.0) and PAH (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.2). An observed excess risk from silica and PAH exposure among NSND laryngeal cancer cases supports the suggested link between occupational exposure and laryngeal cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Dust*
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / chemically induced*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / adverse effects*
  • Silicon Dioxide / adverse effects*
  • Smoking
  • Solvents / adverse effects
  • Turkey
  • Vehicle Emissions

Substances

  • Dust
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Solvents
  • Vehicle Emissions
  • Silicon Dioxide