INCREASED CANCER INCIDENCE IN PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, AND HEALTH-CARE WORKERS

Some earlier reports have indicated increased incidence or mortality o f specific tumor types in various health care professions. In this stu dy we have evaluated cancer incidence in physicians, dentists, and oth er health care workers using the Swedish Cancer Environment Register ( CER), which was formed by record-linkage between the 1970 census on cu rrent occupation and Cancer Register incidence data in 1971-84. In all three profession categories studied an increased risk was found, as w ell for all malignant tumors combined, as for specific tumor types reg arding the different occupations. Possible etiological factors respons ible for these risks are discussed.