title: Occupational risks of esophageal cancer in Taiwanese men.
abstract: This study aims to explore whether certain occupations were associated with the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Taiwan. In a hospital-based case-control study, we collected 326 newly diagnosed ESCC patients and 386 age-matched controls (the ratio of case patients: controls = 1:1-2). All respondents completed a questionnaire, including 33 occupations in which environments potential exposure to cancer-related hazards are present. Workers with dust and metal exposure were categorized into Groups A and B, respectively. Relative risks for ESCC were estimated by odds ratios adjusting for covariates (AOR). Compared with the controls, farmer/gardener (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.02-4.24) and workers in Group A (AOR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.21-6.47) had significantly higher risk for developing ESCC. A tendency of increased risk was also found in workers in group B (OR = 5.72 95% CI = 2.33-14.03), but such association was not significant after adjusting for other covariates (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI = 0.54-6.61). Our results suggested that farmer/gardener and workers with exposure to dust had a significant excess risk of ESCC. This study added further evidence to the current knowledge that occupational hazards are important in the development of ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: I-Chen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Deng-Chyang
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chun-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jeng-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yu-Kuei
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chee-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Yu-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Chia-Tsuan
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tzu-Chi
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ming-Tsang
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004391:Dust; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D008670:Metals