title: Age at occupational exposure to combustion products and lung cancer risk among men in Stockholm, Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occupational exposure to combustion products rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and particles is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. This study aimed to evaluate whether the risk depended on the age at which the individuals were exposed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 1042 lung cancer cases and 2364 frequency-matched population controls selected from all men aged 40-75 years residing in Stockholm County, Sweden, at any time between 1985 and 1990, included detailed questionnaire information on occupational, residential, and smoking history. Occupational exposures were assessed by an occupational hygienist, and exposure to air pollution from road traffic was estimated based on dispersion models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that individuals exposed to combustion products in their twenties were at higher risk than those never exposed (adjusted OR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.02, 2.10). The association was still evident after adjusting for a number of potential confounders, including lifetime cumulative exposure and latency. No clear association was found in those exposed at older ages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to combustion products at a young age was associated with elevated risk of lung cancer. Exposure-reduction programs should be aware of the susceptibility of the younger employees.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden. matteo.bottai@ki.se.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bottai
authors.affiliation: Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selander
authors.affiliation: Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pershagen
authors.affiliation: Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gustavsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D011886:Radon / Q000633:toxicity; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011886:Radon
keywords: Age at exposure; Cancer risk; Combustion products; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons