SINONASAL CANCER AND OCCUPATION - RESULTS FROM THE REANALYSIS OF 12 CASE-CONTROL STUDIES

A pooled reanalysis of twelve case-control studies on sinonasal cancer and occupation from seven countries was conducted in order to study a ssociations with occupations other than wood- and leather-related occu pations. The pooled data set included a total of 930 cases (680 men an d 250 women) and 3,136 controls (2,349 men and 787 women). All the stu dies included a detailed occupational history for cases and controls. Each job was coded using the same classifications for occupation and i ndustry. Two approaches were used in the analysis: systematic analysis of occupations; a priori analysis using a preestablished list of occu pations and industries. The results confirmed associations observed in several studies not included in this analysis. For agricultural worke rs, significant excesses were observed for squamous cell carcinoma amo ng women (OR=1.69) and men (OR=3.72 for ten years or more of employmen t as mt orchard worker), and adenocarcinomas among men (OR=2.98 for te n years or more of employment). Associations with textile occupations were observed for adenocarcinoma among women (OR=2.60) and squamous ce ll carcinoma among men (OR=5.09 for fiber prepares, 3.01 for bleachers ). Elevated risks for both histologic types were observed among men em ployed in food manufacturing (OR=3.25, adenocarcinoma), or as food pre served (OR=13.9, squamous cell carcinoma), and among men employed as c ooks (OR=1.99, squamous cell carcinonza). A positive association with squamous cell carcinoma was observed for male transport equipment oper ators (OR=1.21), and also with adenocarcinoma for male motor-vehicle d rivers (OR=2.50). A number of other associations were observed in the systematic analysis. (C) l997 Wiley-Liss,lnc.