Abstract
Purpose
To summarize the literature on the risk of prostate cancer in whole body vibration (WBV) related occupations and estimate a combined meta-rate ratio.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis of five case–control and three cohort studies published between 1996 and 2004 was conducted. A pooled relative risk (RR) estimate was calculated and the studies were evaluated for homogeneity and publication bias.
Results
The overall pooled RR estimate was 1.14 (95% CI 0.99–1.30) for the random effects model, based on 17 estimates of relative risk from the eight studies. Significant heterogeneity was found. There was no indication of publication bias.
Conclusions
The increased, though not statistically significant pooled RR for prostate cancer obtained in this meta-analysis indicates that occupational exposure to WBV cannot be ruled out as a possible risk factor for the disease. However, all included studies involved driving occupations with exposure to other risk factors for prostate cancer. Therefore, further epidemiologic studies are needed to better understand this association.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aronson KJ, Siemiatycki J, Dewar R, Gerin M (1996) Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer: results from a case–control study in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Am J Epidemiol 143(4):363–373
Band PR, Le ND, Fang R, Threlfall WJ, Gallagher RP (1999) Identification of occupational cancer risks in British Columbia. Part II: a population-based case–control study of 1516 prostatic cancer cases. J Occup Environ Med 41(4):233–247. doi:10.1097/00043764-199904000-00005
Biostat Inc. (2005) Comprehensive meta-analysis, version 2.2. Biostat, Inc., Englewood
Bosco C, Iacovelli M, Tsarpela O, Cardinale M, Bonifazi M, Tihanyi J, Viru M, De Lorenzo A, Viru A (2000) Hormonal responses to whole-body vibration in men. Eur J Appl Physiol 81(6):449–454. doi:10.1007/s004210050067
Bostwick DG, Burke HB, Djakiew D, Euling S, Ho SM, Landolph J, Morrison H, Sonawane B, Shifflett T, Waters DJ, Timms B (2004) Human prostate cancer risk factors. Cancer 101(S10):2371–2490. doi:10.1002/cncr.20408
Bovenzi M, Hulshof CT (1999) An updated review of epidemiologic studies on the relationship between exposure to whole-body vibration and low back pain (1986–1997). Int Arch Occup Environ Health 72(6):351–365. doi:10.1007/s004200050387
Brown DA, Delzell E (2000) Motor vehicle manufacturing and prostate cancer. Am J Ind Med 38(1):59–70.doi:10.1002/1097-0274(200007)38:1<59::AID-AJIM7>3.0.CO;2-Y
Canadian Cancer Society Media Backgrounder: Prostate Cancer. 15 Sept 2005. Available at http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/mediareleaselist/0,3172_343093094_511864870_langId-en.html
Cann AP, Salmoni AW, Vi P, Eger TR (2003) An exploratory study of whole-body vibration exposure and dose while operating heavy equipment in the construction industry. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 18(12):999–1005
Cann AP, Salmoni AW, Eger TR (2004) Predictors of whole-body vibration exposure experienced by highway transport truck operators. Ergonomics 47(13):1432–1453. doi:10.1080/00140130410001712618
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) (2004) Cohort Study Appraisal Tool. Learning and Development Public Health Resource Unit, Oxford
Delgado-Rodriguez M (2001) Glossary on meta-analysis. J Epidemiol Community Health 55(8):534–536. doi:10.1136/jech.55.8.534
Dennis LK, Lynch CF, Torner JC (2002) Epidemiologic association between prostatitis and prostate cancer. Urology 60(1):78–83. doi:10.1016/S0090-4295(02)01637-0
DerSimonian R, Laird N (1986) Meta-analysis in clinical trials. Control Clin Trials 7(3):177–188. doi:10.1016/0197-2456(86)90046-2
Egger M, Davey Smith G (1998) Bias in location and selection of studies. BMJ 316(7124):61–66
Egger M, Davey Smith G, Schneider M, Minder C (1997) Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test. BMJ 315(7109):629–634
Gann PH, Hennekens CH, Ma J, Longcope C, Stampfer MJ (1996) Prospective study of sex hormone levels and risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 88(16):1118–1126. doi:10.1093/jnci/88.16.1118
Hill AB (1965) The environment and disease: association or causation? Proc R Soc Med 58:295–300
Hu H (1983) Other physical hazards and their effects. Occupational health: recognizing and preventing work-related disease. Little, Brown and Co, Boston, p 219
Jarvholm B, Silverman D (2003) Lung cancer in heavy equipment operators and truck drivers with diesel exhaust exposure in the construction industry. Occup Environ Med 60(7):516–520. doi:10.1136/oem.60.7.516
Krstev S, Baris D, Stewart P, Dosemeci M, Swanson GM, Greenberg RS, Schoenberg JB, Schwartz AG, Liff JM, Hayes RB (1998a) Occupational risk factors and prostate cancer in U.S. blacks and whites. Am J Ind Med 34(4):421–430. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199811)34:5<421::AID-AJIM2>3.0.CO;2-T
Krstev S, Baris D, Stewart PA, Hayes RB, Blair A, Dosemeci M (1998b) Risk for prostate cancer by occupation and industry: a 24-state death certificate study. Am J Ind Med 34(4):413–420. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199811)34:5<413::AID-AJIM1>3.0.CO;2-R
Lipsett M, Campleman S (1999) Occupational exposure to diesel exhaust and lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Am J Public Health 89(7):1009–1017. doi:10.2105/AJPH.89.7.1009
Olkin I (1994) Re: “A critical look at some popular meta-analytic methods. Am J Epidemiol 140(3):297–299
Palmer KT, Griffin MJ, Bendall H, Pannett B, Coggon D (2000) Prevalence and pattern of occupational exposure to whole body vibration in Great Britain: findings from a national survey. Occup Environ Med 57(4):229–236. doi:10.1136/oem.57.4.229
Parent ME, Siemiatycki J (2001) Occupation and prostate cancer. Epidemiol Rev 23(1):138–143
Roberts RO, Bergstralh EJ, Bass SE, Leiber MM, Jacobsen SJ (2004) Prostatis as a risk factor for prostate cancer. Epidemiology 15(1):93–99. doi:10.1097/01.ede.0000101022.38330.7c
Sass-Kortsak AM, Purdham JT, Kreiger N, Darlington G, Lightfoot N (2007) Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer. Am J Ind Med 50(8):568–576. doi:10.1002/ajim.20495
Sharma-Wagner S, Chokkalingam AP, Malker HS, Stone BJ, McLaughlin JK, Hsing AW (2000) Occupation and prostate cancer risk in Sweden. J Occup Environ Med 42(5):517–525. doi:10.1097/00043764-200005000-00010
van der Gulden JW, Kolk JJ, Verbeek AL (1995) Work environment and prostate cancer risk. Prostate 27(5):250–257. doi:10.1002/pros.2990270504
Van Maele-Fabry G, Willems JL (2003) Occupation related pesticide exposure and cancer of the prostate: a meta-analysis. Occup Environ Med 60(9):634–642. doi:10.1136/oem.60.9.634
Wasserman DE (1995) Vibration. Environmental medicine. Mosby-Year, St. Louis, p 557
Woolf B (1955) On estimating the relation between blood group and disease. Ann Hum Genet 19(4):251–253. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1809.1955.tb01348.x
Zeegers MPA, Friesema IH, Goldbohm RA, van den Brandt PA (2004) A prospective study of occupation and prostate cancer risk. J Occup Environ Med 46(3):271–279. doi:10.1097/01.jom.0000116961.48464.6b
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge Lynn Weiler for her assistance in critically appraising the articles used in the meta-analysis and with the data extraction. Also, we would like to acknowledge the Centre for Research Excellence on Occupational Disease (CREOD), for financial support for EY.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Young, E., Kreiger, N., Purdham, J. et al. Prostate cancer and driving occupations: could whole body vibration play a role?. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 82, 551–556 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0403-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0403-z