Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lung cancer risk: a multicenter study in Europe.
BACKGROUND
Lung cancer incidence in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is among the highest in the world, and the role of occupational exposures has not been adequately studied in these countries.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the contribution of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to lung cancer in CEE.


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovakia, as well as the United Kingdom (UK) between 1998 and 2002. Occupational and socio-demographic information was collected through interviews from 2861 newly diagnosed lung cancer cases and 2936 population or hospital controls. Industrial hygiene experts in each country evaluated exposure to 70 occupational agents, whereof 15 mixtures containing PAH. ORs of lung cancer were calculated after adjusting for other occupational exposures and tobacco smoking.


RESULTS
The OR for ever exposure to PAH in the CEE countries was 0.93 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.14). The ORs for the highest category of cumulative exposure, duration of exposure and intensity of exposure were 1.13 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.58), 1.02 (95% CI 0.66 to 1.57) and 1.11 (95% CI 0.60 to 2.05), respectively. The OR for ever PAH exposure in the UK was 1.97 (95% CI 1.16 to 3.35).


CONCLUSIONS
Occupational PAH exposure does not appear to substantially contribute to the burden of lung cancer in CEE. The apparently stronger effect observed in the UK may be due to high exposure levels and a joint effect with asbestos.
Olsson
Ann C
AC
International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69008 Lyon, France.
Fevotte
Joelle
J
Fletcher
Tony
T
Cassidy
Adrian
A
't Mannetje
Andrea
A
Zaridze
David
D
Szeszenia-Dabrowska
Neonila
N
Rudnai
Peter
P
Lissowska
Jolanta
J
Fabianova
Eleonora
E
Mates
Dana
D
Bencko
Vladimir
V
Foretova
Lenka
L
Janout
Vladimir
V
Brennan
Paul
P
Boffetta
Paolo
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D001194:Asbestos