title: Cancer among potash workers in Saskatchewan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate what factors contribute to the increased risk of developing cancer among potash mine workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on 1434 male potash workers based on a nested case-control (
  
  
  METHODS
  potash workers whose personal identifiers matched those of an individual registered with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Controls: all other potash workers) study design were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An occupational history of farming (RR [95% CI =]: 1.79 [1.26, 2.55]), presence of pleurisy at baseline [1.90 (1.07 to 3.40)], previous hard rock mining experience [1.74 (1.01 to 3.00)], and age statistically significantly elevated the risk of becoming a case. Smoking status was an effect modifier for the relationship between any respiratory disease at baseline and cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age; previous occupational history of farming and rock mining; interaction between any respiratory disease and smoking status were positively associated with the development of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Institute of Health and Safety in Agriculture, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: Punam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pahwa
authors.forename: Helen H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: McDuffie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008906:Mining; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D045424:Complex Mixtures; C518454:potash