Case-control study on risk factors for testicular cancer

Occupational exposures were assessed in a. case-control study on testicular cancer using self administered questionnaires. Answers were obtained for 1 48 (91%) cases and 314 (87%) controls. Of the cases 101 had seminoma and 47 had embryonal testicular cancer. Occupational plastics work yielded odds r atio (OR) 2.9 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-6.5. Increased risk was found for embryonal cancer regarding farming (OR 3.1; CI 1.03-9.1) and con tact with farm animals (OR 3.3; CI 1.00-10.9), but not for seminoma. For al l testicular cancer exposure to insects repellents, mostly containing N,N-d iethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) gave OR 1.7; CI 1.03-2.8, with a dose-response ef fect. Somewhat increased risks were found for amateur radio operators (OR 2 .2; CI 0.7-6.6), work with radar equipment (OR 2.0; CI 0.3-14.2) and engine ers in electronics and telecommunication industry (OR 2.3; CI 0.8-6.7) base d on few exposed subjects, however. Video display unit work gave OR 1.5; CI 0.98-2.3 and for exposure greater than or equal to 480 working days (media n number) the risk increased further to OR 1.8; CI 1.1-3.2. Because of low numbers of exposed subjects in some calculations some of these results migh t be spurious and need to be further studied.