SOCIOECONOMIC GROUP, OCCUPATION AND INCIDENCE OF BREAST-CANCER AND GENITAL CANCER AMONG WOMEN IN DENMARK

Most studies of occupational cancer have included only male employees. In Denmark more than 40% of the labour force have been women since th e 1970s and a large proportion of Danish women may have had occupation al exposures, including exposures to carcinogens. In a register linkag e study we investigated cancer incidence in a cohort of 1.4 million wo men, categorized by occupation in the 1970 census. Professionals, sala ried employees and unskilled workers all had a slightly increased over all cancer risk. The risk of breast cancer was significantly increased in several groups of professionals such as lawyers, medical doctors, dentists and physiotherapists, nurses and clerks, but in only 2 groups of blue-collar workers: skilled tobacco workers and bookbinders. Ovar ian cancer incidence was significantly elevated among clerks, while tr avelling saleswomen, furriers, hairdressers, nurses, and clerks had a significant excess of uterine corpus cancer. Uterine cervix cancer was almost exclusively elevated in a variety of unskilled occupations. Wo men should be included in studies of occupation and cancer. Although o ccupational hazards cannot be excluded for some associations found in this study, reproductive and lifestyle factors may also influence canc er risk and need to be considered in studies of occupation and cancer in women.