Activities and exposures during leisure and prostate cancer risk

The objective of this study was to identify activities and exposures during leisure that might be associated with the development of prostate cancer. We analyzed data derived from a population-based case-control study that wa s carried out in Montreal between 1979 and 1985. Men (> 4000) were intervie wed, including cases of prostate cancer, other cancers, and population cont rols. The present analysis was restricted to the subset, aged 45-70 years, who underwent face-to-face interviews in which aspects of activities and ex posures during leisure were ascertained. There were 400 incident cases of p rostate cancer and 476 population controls. We calculated odds ratios (OR) for prostate cancer, adjusted for age, ethnic origin, respondent status, fa mily income, body mass index, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption. H ome or furniture maintenance was associated with an increased risk [OR, 1.4 ; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-1.9], as was painting, stripping, or va rnishing furniture (OR, 2.1; 95% Cl, 0.7-6.7). Exposure during leisure to m etal dust was associated with prostate cancer (OR, 3.2; 95% Cl, 1.0-9.9), a s was exposure to lubricating oils or greases (OR, 2.2; 95% Cl, 1.2-3.7) an d exposure to pesticides or garden sprays (OR, 2.3; 95% Cl, 1.3-4.2). These findings are consistent with results derived from studies of occupational exposures.