OCCUPATION, SMOKING AND DEMOGRAPHIC-FACTORS, AND RENAL-CELL CARCINOMAIN GERMANY

Background. The role of occupational exposure in the aetiology of rena l cell cancer is still not clear. In a population-based, case-control study we investigated occupational and smoking history as well as plac e of residence, marital and socioeconomic status. Method. In a case-co ntrol study in Germany, 277 adult cases with incident renal cell cance r and 286 controls frequency-matched to the cases for age and gender h ave been interviewed. The data were analysed by standard methods using unconditional logistic regression models, to estimate the relative ri sk (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Result s. Socioeconomic status was inversely associated (RR = 0.61, 95% CI : 0.3-1.2 for highest category) with the risk for renal cell cancer. Hea vy smoking gave an increased, but not significant (about twofold) RR i n men and women for ex-smokers and current smokers. Employment in meta l-related industries (RR = 1.63, 95% CI : 1.1-2.5) was also identified as a risk factor. Additionally, we found an elevated risk associated with exposure to perchloroethylene and tetrachlorocarbonate (RR = 2.52 , 95% CI : 1.2-5.2) but no time trend could be observed. No associatio ns were found for other occupational exposures, such as working in the chemical industry, transportation or farming nor for exposure to pest icides. Conclusions. The results of our study lead to the suggestion t hat smoking, occupation and demographic factors probably play a minor role in the aetiology of renal cell cancer.