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Age at occupational exposure to combustion products and lung cancer risk among men in Stockholm, Sweden

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Abstract

Purpose

Occupational exposure to combustion products rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and particles is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. This study aimed to evaluate whether the risk depended on the age at which the individuals were exposed.

Methods

Data from 1042 lung cancer cases and 2364 frequency-matched population controls selected from all men aged 40–75 years residing in Stockholm County, Sweden, at any time between 1985 and 1990, included detailed questionnaire information on occupational, residential, and smoking history. Occupational exposures were assessed by an occupational hygienist, and exposure to air pollution from road traffic was estimated based on dispersion models.

Results

We found that individuals exposed to combustion products in their twenties were at higher risk than those never exposed (adjusted OR = 1.46; 95 % CI 1.02, 2.10). The association was still evident after adjusting for a number of potential confounders, including lifetime cumulative exposure and latency. No clear association was found in those exposed at older ages.

Conclusions

Exposure to combustion products at a young age was associated with elevated risk of lung cancer. Exposure-reduction programs should be aware of the susceptibility of the younger employees.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

n :

Count

OR:

Odds ratio

PAH:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

μg:

Micrograms

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden

    Matteo Bottai

  2. Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Jenny Selander & Per Gustavsson

  3. Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Göran Pershagen

Authors
  1. Matteo Bottai
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  2. Jenny Selander
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  3. Göran Pershagen
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  4. Per Gustavsson
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Correspondence to Matteo Bottai.

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Bottai, M., Selander, J., Pershagen, G. et al. Age at occupational exposure to combustion products and lung cancer risk among men in Stockholm, Sweden. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 89, 271–275 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1070-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1070-x

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