Environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer among Chinese nonsmoking males: might adenocarcinoma be the culprit?
No studies have specifically reported the association of lung adenocarcinoma with environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure among nonsmoking males. The objective of this study was to examine the exposure-response relation between ETS exposure and lung cancer among nonsmoking males. In particular, the association with adenocarcinoma of the lung was studied. This is a population-based, case-referent study in Hong Kong during 2004-2006. A total of 132 Chinese male nonsmokers with newly diagnosed primary lung cancer and 536 nonsmoking community referents were interviewed about ETS exposures from the household and/or workplace, including ever ETS exposure, sources of exposure, number of smoking cohabitants/coworkers, and smoker-years. Univariate logistic regression analyses showed a weak association between all lung cancers and ever ETS exposure from the household and/or workplace (odds ratio (OR) = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74, 1.67), but an increased risk was restricted to adenocarcinoma (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.00, 2.38). After adjustment for family cancer history and other confounders, excess risk (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 0.91, 2.88) still persisted for adenocarcinoma, although it was no longer statistically significant. Exposure-response relations for adenocarcinoma were found with increasing levels of all ETS indices when exposures from the household and workplaces were combined. The consistent exposure-response relations between ETS exposures and adenocarcinoma suggested a probable causal link, which would have to be confirmed by future larger studies.
Tse
Lap Ah
LA
Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Studies, School of Public Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yu
Ignatius Tak-Sun
IT
Au
Joseph S K
JS
Yu
Kai Shing
KS
Kwok
Kit Ping
KP
Qiu
Hong
H
Wong
Tze-Wai
TW
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution