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Occupational asbestos exposure as a risk factor for laryngeal carcinoma in a population‐based case–control study from Germany
Author(s) -
Ramroth Heribert,
Ahrens Wolfgang,
Dietz Andreas,
Becher Heiko
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20963
Subject(s) - asbestos , medicine , environmental health , risk factor , occupational exposure , population , case control study , lung cancer , surgery , oncology , pathology , materials science , metallurgy
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. Conclusion Moderately elevated risks for laryngeal cancer after exposure to asbestos were confirmed. Difficulties in the collection of adequate exposure data were demonstrated. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:510–514, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.