Combined effects of occupational exposure to hazardous operations and lifestyle‐related factors on cancer incidence

• Published in: Cancer science Vol. 111; no. 12; pp. 4581 - 4593
• Main Authors: Fukai, Kota, Kojimahara, Noriko, Hoshi, Keika, Toyota, Akihiro, Tatemichi, Masayuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.12.2020; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Age; Aged; Alcohol use; Analysis; Asbestos - toxicity; Bile Duct Neoplasms - epidemiology; Bile Duct Neoplasms - etiology; Bile ducts; Bladder; Cancer; cancer incidence; Case-Control Studies; case‐control study; Chemicals; Classification; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Colonic Neoplasms - etiology; Databases, Factual - statistics & numerical data; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Dust; Female; Hazardous Substances - toxicity; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Incidence; Japan - epidemiology; Life Style; Lifestyles; Liver Neoplasms - epidemiology; Liver Neoplasms - etiology; Logistic Models; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - epidemiology; Lung Neoplasms - etiology; Male; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - etiology; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational Exposure - classification; Occupational health; Odds Ratio; Original; Pancreas; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Pancreatic Neoplasms - etiology; Questionnaires; Radiation Exposure - adverse effects; Rectal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Rectal Neoplasms - etiology; Rectum; smoking; Stomach Neoplasms - epidemiology; Stomach Neoplasms - etiology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - epidemiology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - etiology; Japan; case-control study; cancer incidence; diabetes; occupational exposure; smoking
• ISSN: 1347-9032; 1349-7006; 1349-7006
• DOI: 10.1111/cas.14663

We aimed to examine whether the number of types of hazardous operations at work experienced through a lifetime is associated with cancer incidence, and additionally examined the combined effects with lifestyle‐related factors. Using a nationwide, multicenter, hospital inpatient dataset (2005‐2015), we conducted a matched case‐control study with 1 149 296 study subjects. We classified the participants into those with none, 1, or 2 or more types of hazardous operation experience, based on information of special medical examinations taken, mandatory in Japan for workers engaged in hazardous operations. Using those with no experience as the reference group, we estimated the odds ratios for cancer incidence (all sites, lung, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, pancreas, bile duct, and bladder) by conditional logistic regression with multiple imputations. We also examined the effects of the combination with hazardous operations and lifestyle‐related factors. We observed increased risks for cancer of all sites, and lung, pancreas, and bladder cancer associated with the experience of hazardous operations. Multivariable‐adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of cancer incidence of all sites were 1 (reference), 1.16 (1.12, 1.21), and 1.17 (1.08, 1.27) for none, 1, and 2 or more types of hazardous operation experience, respectively (P for trend <.001). Potential combined associations of hazardous operations with smoking were observed for lung, pancreas, and bladder cancer, and with diabetes for pancreas cancer. Engaging in hazardous operations at work and in combination with lifestyle‐related factors may increase the risk of cancer. We highlight the potential for those engaged in hazardous work to avoid preventable cancers. Compared with those with no experience of occupational hazardous operation, the incidence of total, lung, pancreas, and bladder cancer was clearly increased as the number of types of hazardous operation work experience increased. Potential combined associations of hazardous operations with smoking were also observed for lung, pancreas, and bladder cancer, and with diabetes for pancreas cancer.