Occupational lung cancer risk for men in Germany: Results from a pooled case-control study

Occupational exposures such as crystalline silica, diesel engine exhaust, p olycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and man-made mineral fibers are strongly s uspected to increase lung cancer risk. Two case-control studies in Germany conducted between 1988 and 1996 were pooled for a joint analysis. A total o f 3,498 male cases and 3,541 male population controls, frequency matched fo r age and region, were included in the study. The lifelong history of all j obs and industries was coded and occupational exposures were evaluated by e xpert rating. Odds ratios, crude and adjusted for smoking and asbestos expo sure, were calculated by conditional logistic regression. Job-related evalu ation showed a statistically significant increased odds ratio adjusted for smoking among farmers; forestry workers, fishermen, and livestock workers; miners and quarrymen; chemical processors; cabinet makers and related wood workers; metal producers and processors; bricklayers and carpenters; road c onstruction workers, pipelayers and well diggers; plasterers, insulators, a nd upholsterers; painters and lacquerers; stationary engine and heavy equip ment operators; transport workers and freight handlers; and service workers . With regard to specific occupational exposures, elevated odds ratios (OR) (95% confidence intervals (CI)) for lung cancer risk adjusted for smoking and asbestos exposure were observed for man-made mineral fibers (OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.17, 1.88); crystalline silica (OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.22, 1.62); die sel engine exhaust (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.23, 1.67); and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.14, 2.04). The risk of asbestos exposure, adjusted for smoking was also increased (OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.24, 1.60).