Abstract

Adenocarcinoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses has been associated with occupational exposure to wood and leather dust. Strong evidence has been found for such an association in Florence, Italy, from 1963 to 1977. Sixty-nine cases of primary cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses were identified from hospital records. There were 13 cases of adenocarcinoma, 11 of which were successfully traced and interviewed (patient or relative). Of the 11 cases, three were woodworkers with substantial exposure to wood dust (17 years' average employment) and seven were shoemakers, mostly trimmers. When matched to either of two separate sets of controls (non-cancer hospital patients, and non-adenocarcinoma nose or paranasal sinus cancer patients), the association with occupation was statistically significant. Smoking was ruled out as a source of bias.