Lung cancer and occupation: A New Zealand cancer registry-based case-control study.
BACKGROUND
There are many proven and suspected occupational causes of lung cancer, which will become relatively more important over time, as smoking prevalence decreases.


METHODS
We interviewed 457 cases aged 20-75 years notified to the New Zealand Cancer Registry during 2007-2008, and 792 population controls. We collected information on demographic details, potential confounders, and employment history. Associations were estimated using logistic regression adjusted for gender, age, ethnicity, smoking, and socio-economic status.


RESULTS
Among occupations of a priori interest, elevated odds ratios (ORs) were observed for sawmill, wood panel and related wood-processing plant operators (OR 4.63; 95% CI 1.05-20.29), butchers (OR 8.77, 95% CI 1.06-72.55), rubber and plastics products machine operators (4.27; 1.16-15.66), heavy truck drivers (2.24; 1.19-4.21) and workers in petroleum, coal, chemical and associated product manufacturing (1.80; 1.11-2.90); non-significantly elevated risks were also observed for loggers (4.67; 0.81-27.03), welders and flame-cutters (2.50; 0.86-7.25), pressers (5.74; 0.96-34.42), and electric and electronic equipment assemblers (3.61; 0.96-13.57). Several occupations and industries not of a priori interest also showed increased risks, including nursing associate professionals (5.45; 2.29-12.99), enrolled nurses (7.95; 3.10-20.42), care givers (3.47; 1.40-8.59), plant and machine operators and assemblers (1.61; 1.20-2.16), stationary machine operators and assemblers (1.67; 1.22-2.28), food and related products processing machine operators (1.98; 1.23-3.19), laborers and related elementary service workers (1.45; 1.05-2.00), manufacturing (1.34; 1.02-1.77), car retailing (3.08; 1.36-6.94), and road freight transport (3.02; 1.45-6.27).


CONCLUSIONS
Certain occupations and industries have increased lung cancer risks in New Zealand, including wood workers, metal workers, meat workers, textile workers and drivers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:89-101, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Corbin
Marine
M
Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
McLean
David
D
Mannetje
Andrea 't
A'
Dryson
Evan
E
Walls
Chris
C
McKenzie
Fiona
F
Maule
Milena
M
Cheng
Soo
S
Cunningham
Chris
C
Kromhout
Hans
H
Blair
Aaron
A
Pearce
Neil
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014896:Welding; D014934:Wood / Q000633:toxicity; D055815:Young Adult
D008670:Metals