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Occupational risk factors for lung cancer among nonsmoking women: a case-control study in Missouri (United States)

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Occupationally related risk of lung cancer among women and among nonsmokers has not been widely studied. A recently conducted population-based, case-control study in Missouri (United States) provided the opportunity to evaluate risk of lung cancer associated with several occupational factors. Incident cases (n=429) were identified through the Missouri Cancer Registry for the period 1986 through 1991, and included 294 lifetime nonsmokers and 135 ex-smokers who had stopped at least 15 years prior to diagnosis or had smoked for less than one pack-year. Controls (n=1,021) were selected through driver's license and Medicare files. Risk was elevated among women exposed to asbestos (ever: odds ratio [OR]=3.5, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]=1.2–10.0; >9 yrs: OR=4.6, CI=1.1–19.2) and pesticides (ever: OR=2.4, CI=1.1–5.6; >17.5 yrs: OR=2.4, CI=0.8–7.0). Risk also was elevated among dry cleaning workers (ever: OR=1.8, CI=1.1–3.0; >1.125 yrs: OR=2.9, CI=1.5–5.4). Occupational risks for lung cancer among women merit further study.

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Authors
  1. Ross C. Brownson
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  2. Michael C. R. Alavanja
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  3. Jian C. Chang
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Additional information

Drs Brownson and Chang are with the Missouri Department of Health, Columbia, MO, USA. Dr Alavanja is with the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA. Dr Chang directs the Missouri Cancer Registry with the Missouri Department of Health. Address correspondence to Dr Brownson, Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Missouri Department of Health, 201 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO 65203, USA. This study was supported in part by US National Cancer Institute contracts NO1-CP7-1096-01 and NO1-CP7-1096-02.

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Brownson, R.C., Alavanja, M.C.R. & Chang, J.C. Occupational risk factors for lung cancer among nonsmoking women: a case-control study in Missouri (United States). Cancer Causes Control 4, 449–454 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00050864

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