INTEROCC case-control study: lack of association between glioma tumors and occupational exposure to selected combustion products, dusts and other chemical agents.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The aim was to investigate possible associations between glioma (an aggressive type of brain cancer) and occupational exposure to selected agents: combustion products (diesel and gasoline exhaust emissions, benzo(a)pyrene), dusts (animal dust, asbestos, crystalline silica, wood dust) and some other chemical agents (formaldehyde, oil mist, sulphur dioxide).

METHODS:

The INTEROCC study included cases diagnosed with glioma during 2000-2004 in sub-regions of seven countries. Population controls, selected from various sampling frames in different centers, were frequency or individually matched to cases by sex, age and center. Face-to-face interviews with the subject or a proxy respondent were conducted by trained interviewers. Detailed information was collected on socio-economic and lifestyle characteristics, medical history and work history. Occupational exposure to the 10 selected agents was assessed by a job exposure matrix (JEM) which provides estimates of the probability and level of exposure for different occupations. Using a 25% probability of exposure in a given occupation in the JEM as the threshold for considering a worker exposed, the lifetime prevalence of exposure varied from about 1% to about 15% for the different agents. Associations between glioma and each of the 10 agents were estimated by conditional logistic regression, and using three separate exposure indices: i) ever vs. never; ii) lifetime cumulative exposure; iii) total duration of exposure.

RESULTS:

The study sample consisted of 1,800 glioma cases and 5,160 controls. Most odds ratio estimates were close to the null value. None of the ten agents displayed a significantly increased odds ratio nor any indication of dose-response relationships with cumulative exposure or with duration of exposure.

CONCLUSION:

Thus, there was no evidence that these exposures influence risk of glioma.

• Authors: Aude Lacourt, Elisabeth Cardis, Javier Pintos, Lesley Richardson, Laurel Kincl, Geza Benke, Sarah Fleming, Martine Hours, Daniel Krewski, Dave McLean, Marie-Elise Parent, Siegal Sadetzki, Klaus Schlaefer, Brigitte Schlehofer, Jerome Lavoue, Martie van Tongeren, Jack Siemiatycki
• Journal: BMC public health (BMC Public Health) Vol. 13 Pg. 340 (Apr 12 2013) ISSN: 1471-2458 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23587105 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Brain Neoplasms (epidemiology, etiology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Glioma (epidemiology, etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects, statistics & numerical data)
• Risk Factors
• Surveys and Questionnaires