Testicular cancer among Swedish pulp and paper workers.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of testicular cancer has increased in recent decades. The aims of the present study were to elucidate whether Swedish paper and pulp mill workers had an increased incidence of testicular cancer, and to investigate whether certain occupational groups within the pulp and paper mill workforce were at increased risk.


METHODS
The study was based on the Swedish Cancer Environment Register, which links the incidence of cancer for the period 1971-1990 with 1960 and 1970 National Census data on specific industries and occupations for all employed subjects in Sweden.


RESULTS
Among maintenance workers employed both in 1960 and in 1970 in paper mills there was an increased risk for testicular cancer (standardized incidence ratio (SIR) 7.4, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.5-22), especially for seminomas (SIR 10.1, 95% CI 2.1-29). Maintenance workers were also at increased risk when analyzing workers employed in 1960, 1970, or both years.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates an increased risk for testicular cancer, especially seminomas, among maintenance workers, but not among process workers, in Swedish paper mills.
Andersson
Eva
E
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Nilsson
Ralph
R
Torén
Kjell
K
D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010209:Paper; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*