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.
International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69008 Lyon, France.
Ann C
AC
Olsson
Joelle
J
Fevotte
Tony
T
Fletcher
Adrian
A
Cassidy
Andrea
A
't Mannetje
David
D
Zaridze
Neonila
N
Szeszenia-Dabrowska
Peter
P
Rudnai
Jolanta
J
Lissowska
Eleonora
E
Fabianova
Dana
D
Mates
Vladimir
V
Bencko
Lenka
L
Foretova
Vladimir
V
Janout
Paul
P
Brennan
Paolo
P
Boffetta
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