title: Occupational asbestos exposure as a risk factor for laryngeal carcinoma in a population-based case-control study from Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As several studies have identified asbestos exposure as an independent occupational risk factor for laryngeal cancer, the aim of our study was to confirm this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a population-based case-control study on laryngeal cancer in South-West Germany occupational exposures and other risk factors were obtained by face-to-face interviews using a detailed standardized questionnaire covering the complete individual working history, supplemented by job-specific questionnaires (JSQ) especially for selected jobs known to entail exposure to asbestos. Detailed exposure information was collected over a wide range of asbestos related jobs and branches and analyzed using different modeling strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-three (28.4%) cases and 158 (20.5%) controls reported any exposure to asbestos. Elevated risk estimates for asbestos exposure were found. However, those became substantially reduced after adjustment for smoking and alcohol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderately elevated risks for laryngeal cancer after exposure to asbestos were confirmed. Difficulties in the collection of adequate exposure data were demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany. heribert.ramroth@uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Heribert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ramroth
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos