Occupation and bladder cancer in a population-based case-control study in Northern New England.
OBJECTIVE
We used data from a large, population-based case-control study in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont to examine relationships between occupation, industry and bladder cancer risk.


METHODS
Lifetime occupational histories were obtained by personal interview from 1158 patients newly diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in 2001-2004, and from 1402 population controls. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate ORs and 95% CIs, adjusted for demographic factors, smoking and employment in other high-risk occupations.


RESULTS
Male precision metalworkers and metalworking/plasticworking machine operators had significantly elevated risks and significant trends in risk with duration of employment (precision metalworkers: OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.4, p(trend) = 0.0065; metalworking/plasticworking machine operators: OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.6, p(trend) = 0.047). Other occupations/industries for which risk increased significantly with duration of employment included: for men, textile machine operators, mechanics/repairers, automobile mechanics, plumbers, computer systems analysts, information clerks, and landscape industry workers; for women, service occupations, health services, cleaning and building services, management-related occupations, electronic components manufacturing and transportation equipment manufacturing. Men reporting use of metalworking fluids (MWF) had a significantly elevated bladder cancer risk (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the hypothesis that some component(s) of MWF may be carcinogenic to the bladder. Our results also corroborate many other previously reported associations between bladder cancer risk and various occupations. More detailed analyses using information from the study's job-specific questionnaires may help to identify MWF components that may be carcinogenic, and other bladder carcinogens associated with a variety of occupations.
Colt
Joanne S
JS
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7240, USA. coltj@mail.nih.gov
Karagas
Margaret R
MR
Schwenn
Molly
M
Baris
Dalsu
D
Johnson
Alison
A
Stewart
Patricia
P
Verrill
Castine
C
Moore
Lee E
LE
Lubin
Jay
J
Ward
Mary H
MH
Samanic
Claudine
C
Rothman
Nathaniel
N
Cantor
Kenneth P
KP
Beane Freeman
Laura E
LE
Schned
Alan
A
Cherala
Sai
S
Silverman
Debra T
DT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*