title: Cancer and construction: what occupational histories in a Canadian community reveal.
abstract: From 2000 to 2002, male patients at a Canadian cancer treatment center with new-incident head-and-neck or esophageal cancers were invited to participate in a population-based study. The study population included 87 cases and 172 controls. A lifetime-history questionnaire was administered. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for occupational groups with a minimum of five cases, adjusted for duration of employment, age, smoking, alcohol, education, and income. A significantly increased risk was shown for construction workers (OR = 2.20; 95% CI 1.25-3.91). This investigation of a set of rare cancers over a limited time period demonstrates the feasibility of this research approach. The increased risk among construction workers supports the need for more comprehensive study of exposures in this occupational group.
authors.affiliation: jbrophy@ohcow.on.ca
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brophy
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gorey
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Luginaah
authors.forename: Hakam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abu-Zahra
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Watterson
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hellyer
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reinhartz
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors