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A nested case control study of lung cancer among New York talc workers

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Summary

This nested case control study assessed the relationship of lung cancer and time exposed to talc, while controlling for smoking, other talc exposures, and nontalc exposures. There were 22 lung cancer cases (91% smokers and 9% former smokers) and 66 controls (27% nonsmokers, 9% former smokers, and 64% smokers). Smokers were at sixfold increased risk compared to nonsmokers and ex-smokers. When stratified by smoking status, risk of lung cancer decreased with talc tenure and remained negative when excluding cases with < 20 years' latency and short-term workers. These data suggest that nontalc exposures are not confounding risk factors while smoking is, and that temporal and exposure-response relationships are consistent with a smoking etiology but not an occupational etiology for lung cancer.

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Author notes

  1. John F. Gamble

    Present address: Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Mettlers Road, CN 2350, 08875-2350, East Millstone, New Jersey, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, VA, USA

    John F. Gamble

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  1. John F. Gamble
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Gamble, J.F. A nested case control study of lung cancer among New York talc workers. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 64, 449–456 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00517952

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00517952

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