Firefighting and risk of testicular cancer: results from a German population-based case-control study.
BACKGROUND
There is some evidence of an elevated risk for testicular cancer among firefighters.


METHODS
We performed a population-based case-control study including 269 testicular cancer cases and 797 controls matching on age and region with a special focus on occupational exposures. Job tasks were coded according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO 68). We used conditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR).


RESULTS
Three controls (0.4%) and four cases (1.5%) ever worked as firefighters. Firefighters showed an increased odds of testicular cancer in the matched evaluation (OR = 4.3, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.7-30.5). The adjustment for a history of cryptorchidism or family history of testicular cancer did not alter our results.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the association between firefighting and testicular cancer risk is based on only small numbers of exposed subjects in our study, the finding is consistent with a recent cohort study from New Zealand. Occupational hazards experienced by firefighters may increase the risk of testicular cancer.
Stang
Andreas
A
Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstr. Essen, Germany. andreas.stang@uni-essen.de
Jöckel
Karl-Heinz
KH
Baumgardt-Elms
Cornelia
C
Ahrens
Wolfgang
W
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005390:Fires; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*