OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO POLYVINYL-CHLORIDE AS A RISK FACTOR FOR TESTICULAR CANCER EVALUATED IN A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Occupational exposures were assessed in a case-control study on testic ular cancer using self-administered questionnaires. In total, answers were obtained for 148 (91%) cases and 315 (87%) controls. Of the cases , 101 had seminoma and 47 had embryonal testicular cancer. An increase d odds ratio (OR) was found for exposure to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) y ielding an OR of 6.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.4-32). The risk incre ased further if cases with self-reported cryptorchidism or orchitis we re excluded. Six of the 7 exposed cases had seminoma. Exposure to othe r types of plastics did not significantly increase the risk of testicu lar cancer. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.