title: Risk factors for nasal malignancies in German men: the South-German Nasal cancer study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are few studies of the effects of nasal snuff and environmental factors on the risk of nasal cancer. This study aimed to investigate the impact of using nasal snuff and of other risk factors on the risk of nasal cancer in German men.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based case-control study was conducted in the German Federal States of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Tumor registries and ear, nose and throat departments provided access to patients born in 1926 or later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Telephone interviews were conducted with 427 cases (mean age 62.1 years) and 2.401 population-based controls (mean age 60.8 years). Ever-use of nasal snuff was associated with an odds ratio (OR) for nasal cancer of 1.45 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-2.38) in the total study population, whereas OR in smokers was 2.01 (95% CI 1.00-4.02) and in never smokers was 1.10 (95% CI 0.43-2.80). The OR in ever-smokers vs. never-smokers was 1.60 (95% CI 1.24-2.07), with an OR of 1.06 (95% CI 1.05-1.07) per pack-year smoked, and the risk was significantly decreased after quitting smoking. Exposure to hardwood dust for at least 1 year resulted in an OR of 2.33 (95% CI 1.40-3.91) in the total population, which was further increased in never-smokers (OR 4.89, 95% CI 1.92-12.49) in analyses stratified by smoking status. The OR for nasal cancer after exposure to organic solvents for at least 1 year was 1.53 (1.17-2.01). Ever-use of nasal sprays/nasal lavage for at least 1 month rendered an OR of 1.59 (1.04-2.44). The OR after use of insecticides in homes was 1.48 (95% CI 1.04-2.11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking and exposure to hardwood dust were confirmed as risk factors for nasal carcinoma. There is evidence that exposure to organic solvents, and in-house use of insecticides could represent novel risk factors. Exposure to asbestos and use of nasal snuff were risk factors in smokers only.
authors.affiliation: Center for Social Policy Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bremen University, Bremen, Germany. eberhard.greiser@arcor.de
authors.forename: Eberhard M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Greiser
authors.forename: Karin Halina
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Greiser
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lazszig
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Zenner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004391:Dust; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects; D014934:Wood / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D007306:Insecticides; D012997:Solvents