
Occupational dust exposure and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma risk in a population‐based case–control study conducted in the greater B oston area
Author(s) -
Langevin Scott M.,
McClean Michael D.,
Michaud Dominique S.,
Eliot Melissa,
Nelson Heather H.,
Kelsey Karl T.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.155
Subject(s) - head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , head and neck , basal cell , medicine , case control study , occupational exposure , oncology , population , environmental health , carcinoma , head and neck cancer , surgery , cancer
Head and neck cancers account for an estimated 549,000 global cancer diagnoses each year. While tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV 16 infection are considered to be the major risk factors for this disease, occupational risk factors, including exposure to asbestos, have also been described, although dust exposures other than asbestos have been historically understudied. We have investigated the relationship between occupational exposures to five types of dusts, including sawdust, concrete dust, leather dust, metal dust, and chimney soot, and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas ( HNSCC ) in the greater Boston area. We report findings from a population‐based case–control study involving 951 incident HNSCC cases and 1193 controls, frequency matched on age (±3 years), sex, and town/neighborhood of residence. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between occupational exposure to each type of dust and HNSCC , overall and by primary tumor site. After adjusting for age, sex, race, smoking, alcohol consumption, education, and HPV 16 serology, laryngeal carcinoma risk increased for each decade of occupational exposure to sawdust ( OR = 1.2, 95% CI : 1.0, 1.3) and metal dust ( OR = 1.2, 95% CI : 1.0, 1.4); and HNSCC risk increased for each decade of occupational leather dust exposure ( OR = 1.5, 95% CI : 1.2, 1.9). We have provided evidence for an association between occupational sawdust and metal dust and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and leather dust and HNSCC , with increasing risk with longer duration at the exposed occupation.