Workplace Diesel Exhausts and Gasoline Exposure and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Four Nordic Countries

Background: Evidence on associations between occupational diesel exhaust and gasoline exposure and colorectal cancer is limited. We aimed to assess the effect of workplace exposure to diesel exhaust and gasoline on the risk of colorectal cancer. Methods: This case-control study included 181,709 colo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Safety and Health at Work
Main Authors: Talibov, Madar, Sormunen, Orma, Weiderpass, Elisabete, Kjaerheim, Kristina, Martinsen, Jan-Ivar, Sparen, Per, Tryggvadottir, Laufey, Hansen, Johnni, Pukkala, Eero
Other Authors: Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Scientific Publ. Co 2020
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10138/311880
Description
Summary:Background: Evidence on associations between occupational diesel exhaust and gasoline exposure and colorectal cancer is limited. We aimed to assess the effect of workplace exposure to diesel exhaust and gasoline on the risk of colorectal cancer. Methods: This case-control study included 181,709 colon cancer and 109,227 rectal cancer cases diagnosed between 1961 and 2005 in Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Cases and controls were identified from the Nordic Occupational Cancer Study cohort and matched for country, birth year, and sex. Diesel exhaust and gasoline exposure values were assigned by country-specific job-exposure matrices. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by using conditional logistic regression models. The results were adjusted for physical strain at work and occupational exposure to benzene, formaldehyde, ionizing radiation, chlorinated hydrocarbons, chromium, and wood dust. Results: Diesel exhaust exposure was associated with a small increase in the risk of rectal cancer (odds ratio = 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.08). Gasoline exposure was not associated with colorectal cancer risk. Conclusion: This study showed a small risk increase for rectal cancer after workplace diesel exhaust exposure. However, this finding could be due to chance, given the limitations of the study. (C) 2019 Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Published by Elsevier Korea LLC. Peer reviewed