Occupational exposure to asbestos and man-made vitreous fibers, and risk of lung cancer: evidence from two case-control studies in Montreal, Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of occupational asbestos and man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) on the risk of lung cancer in two population-based case-control studies entailing exposure at lower levels than in historic cohort studies.


METHODS
Study I (1979 to 1986) comprised 857 cases and 1066 population and cancer controls. Study II (1996 to 2001) comprised 858 cases and 1295 population controls. A detailed job history was obtained to evaluate lifetime occupational exposure to 294 agents, including asbestos and MMVF.


RESULTS
We found increased risks for substantial exposure to asbestos (odds ratio = 1.78; 95% confidence interval: 0.94 to 3.36). The corresponding odds ratio for substantial exposure to MMVF was 1.10 (95% confidence interval: 0.37 to 3.22).


CONCLUSIONS
Low and moderate levels of exposure to asbestos, as encountered in this population, were associated with some excess risk of lung cancer. Results for MMVF were inconclusive.
Pintos
Javier
J
INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Unit of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Laval, Québec, Canada. javier.pintos@iaf.inrs.ca
Parent
Marie-Elise
ME
Rousseau
Marie-Claude
MC
Case
Bruce W
BW
Siemiatycki
Jack
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology
D019016:Mineral Fibers; D001194:Asbestos