WORK-ENVIRONMENT AND PROSTATE-CANCER RISK

A case-referent study of 345 prostate cancer cases and 1,346 referents was carried out in the Netherlands to investigate the relationship be tween work environment and prostate cancer risk. Cases were selected f rom the Cancer Registry of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre IKO. Refere nts (men diagnosed with benign prostate hyperplasia) were recruited wi th assistance of the pathology laboratories in the IKO region. Questio nnaires were mailed to all subjects to obtain information on their wor k history and occupational. exposure. Moreover, workers in farming (n = 323), and in metal work and maintenance (n = 340), were requested to complete short supplements to the questionnaire inquiring in more det ail into specific types of exposure. Significantly elevated risks were found for work in food manufacturing and for bookkeepers. Significant ly elevated odds ratios (OR) were also observed for jobs held between 1960 and 1970 in administration, in storage, or as farm laborer. In ad dition, a statistically significant excess risk was found for subjects who reported frequent occupational exposure to cadmium. Cases who wor ked in farming applied pesticides during significant more days per yea r than the referents did. A nonsignificantly elevated OR was found for maintenance of tractors and agricultural machinery. Among metal worke rs, mechanics, and repairmen, nonsignificantly increased ORs were obse rved with regard to the use of acids, solvents, iron, and steel, and f or welding and maintenance of machinery. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.