International renal-cell cancer study. IV. Occupation

• Published in: International journal of cancer Vol. 61; no. 5; p. 601
• Main Authors: Mandel, J S, McLaughlin, J K, Schlehofer, B, Mellemgaard, A, Helmert, U, Lindblad, P, McCredie, M, Adami, H O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 29.05.1995
• Subjects: Aged; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - epidemiology; Case-Control Studies; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Occupations; Odds Ratio; Risk; Smoking
• ISSN: 0020-7136
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.2910610503

The relationship between renal-cell cancer (RCC) and occupation was investigated in an international multicenter population-based case-control study. Study centers in Australia, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and the United States interviewed 1732 incident RCC cases and 2309 controls. Significant associations were found with employment in the blast-furnace or the coke-oven industry [relative risk (RR), 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-2.7], the iron and steel industry (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2) and exposure to asbestos (RR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8), cadmium (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0-3.9), dry-cleaning solvents (RR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7), gasoline (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.0) and other petroleum products (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3-2.1). Asbestos, petroleum products and dry-cleaning solvents appear to merit further investigation, in view of the relationship between risk and duration of employment or exposure and after adjustment for confounding. There was a negative association between RCC and education, but it was not consistent across all centers. Overall, the results of our multicenter case-control study suggest that occupation may be more important in the etiology of RCC than indicated by earlier studies.