Risk of pancreatic cancer and occupational exposures in Spain

The objective of the study was to analyse the relationship between occupati onal exposures and risk of pancreatic cancer, Incident cases of pancreatic cancer and hospital controls were prospectively identified and interviewed during the hospital stay. Occupational history was obtained by direct inter view with the patient, and was available for 164 (89%) of 185 pancreatic ca ncer cases, and 238 (90%) of 264 controls. Two industrial hygienists evalua ted exposures to 22 suspected carcinogens previously associated with pancre atic cancer. Occupational exposures were also assessed using the Finnish jo b-exposure matrix (FINJEM), For each type of pesticide group, moderately in creased odds ratios (OR) were apparent in the high-intensity category, high est for arsenical pesticides (OR = 3.4; 95% CI 0.9-12.0), and 'other pestic ides' (OR = 3.17; 95% CI 1.1-9.2). ORs for aniline derivatives, and dyes an d organic pigments, were also higher for high-intensity exposure, and incre ased when Lagged and restricted to long duration of exposure. ORs above 3 w ere observed for the following agents evaluated by FINJEM: pesticides, benz o[a]pyrene, lead, volatile sulphur compounds, and sedentary work. Whilst ge nerally negative, results lend moderate support to the hypothesis of an ass ociation between exposure to some pesticides and pancreatic cancer. Larger studies could address the potential for these compounds to modify the carci nogenic risk of other environmental exposures. Suggestive increases in risk from aniline derivatives, dyes and organic pigments, and benzo[a ]pyrene m ay also deserve further attention. (C) 2000 British Occupational Hygiene So ciety. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.