Occupation and prostate cancer risk in Sweden

To provide new lends regarding occupational prostate cancer risk factors, w e linked 36,269 prostate cancer cases reported to the Swedish National Canc er Registry during 1961 to 1979 with employment information from the 1960 N ational Census. Standardized incidence ratios for prostate cancer, within m ajor (1-digit) general (2-digit) and specific (3-digit) industries and occu pations, were calculated, Significant excess risks were seen for agricultur e-related industries, soap and perfume manufacture, and leather processing industries. Significantly elevated standardized incidence ratios were also seen for the following occupations:farmers, leather workers, and white-coll ar occupations. Our results suggest that farmers; certain occupations and i ndustries with exposures to cadmium, herbicides, and fertilizers; and men w ith low occupational physical activity levels have elevated prostate cancer risks. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and identify s pecific exposures related to excess msk in these occupations and industries .