Table 2

Distribution of cases and controls and risk of lung cancer by work environmenf

INRS Work Environment GroupSector/activity (NAF code*)Occupation/process (ISCO code†) Cases Controls OR§ 95% Cl
Mean UE/m3(±SD)‡NN
Never worked in environment exposed to endotoxins¶246128951.00Reference
Ever worked in environment exposed to endotoxins**4656600.8(0.66–0.95)
Agriculture
Greenhouse plant cultivation23390.66(0.33–1.33)
110 (±4.3)Growing of vegetables; truck farming (01.1C)Farm managers and supervisors (6–00)
Growing of horticultural specialities and nursery products(01.1D)General farmers (6–11)
Growing of fruit (except grapes) (01.1F)Horticultural Farmer (6–12.70)
Agricultural service activities (01.4A)General Farm Workers (6–21.05/10)
Growing of crops combined with farming of animals (mixed farming)(01.3Z)Nursery Workers and Gardeners (627)
Outside plant cultivation991310.94(0.66–1.35)
110 (±2.5)Growing of crops; market gardening; horticulture (01.1*)Farm managers and supervisors (6–00)
Agricultural service activities (01.4A)General farmers (6–11)
Growing of crops combined with farming of animals (mixed farming)(01.3Z)Specialised farmers (6–12.20/30/70)
General farm workers (6–21)
Field crop and vegetable farm workers (6–22)
Orchard, vineyard and related tree and shrub crop workers (6–23)
Nursery workers and gardeners(6–27)
Dairy farms††31870.25(0.14–0.45)
1570 (±2.5)Farming of cattle (01.2A)Farm managers and supervisors (6–00)
Farming of sheep, goats, horses, asses, mules and hinnies (01.2C)General farmers (6–11)
Animal husbandry service activities, except veterinary activities (01.4D)Specialised farmers (6–12.40/50)
Growing of crops combined with farming of animals (mixed farming)(01.3Z)General farm workers (6–21)
Dairy farm workers (6–25)
Cattle††972560.43(0.31–0.6)
1570 (±2.5)Farming of cattle (01.2A)Farm managers and supervisors (6–00)
Farming of sheep, goats, horses, asses, mules and hinnies (01.2C)General farmers (6–11)
Growing of crops combined with farming of animals (mixed farming)(01.3Z)Specialised farmers (6–12.40/50)
General farm workers (6–21)
Livestock workers (6–24)
Dairy farm workers (6–25)
Poultry††341090.44(0.26–0.71)
84 310 (±13)Farming of poultry (01.2G)Farm managers and supervisors (6–00)
Growing of crops combined with farming of animals (mixed farming)(01.3Z)General farmers (6–11)
Poultry farmer (6–12.60)
Farm worker (general)(6–21.05)
Poultry farm workers (6–26)
Pigs††Farming of swine (01.2E)Farm managers and supervisors (6–00)391150.48(0.3–0.76)
1510 (±2.1)Growing of crops combined with farming of animals (mixed farming)(01.3Z)General farmers (6–11)
Livestock farmer (6–12.40)
General farm workers (6–21)
Livestock worker (general) (6–24.10)
Pig farm workers (6–24.40)
Work with grains25450.72(0.36–1.4)
6000 (±8.6)Growing of cereals and other crops n.e.c. (01.1A)Farm managers and supervisors (6–00)
Growing of fruit (except grapes) (01.1F)General farmers (6–11)
Agricultural service activities (01.4A)Specialised farmers (6–12.20/30/70)
Manufacture of grain mill products. starches and starch products (15.6*)General farm workers (6–21)
Field crop and vegetable farm workers (6–22)excluding 6–22.40 and 6–22.60
Grain millers and related workers (7–71)
Agri-transformation/agri-food
Flour manufacturing22--
280 (±7.7)Flour milling (15.6A)Grain millers and related workers (7–71)
Coffee-roasting plant and tea trading44--
140 (±3.4)Processing of tea and coffee (15.8P)Tea, coffee and cocoa preparers (7–77)
Sugar production12--
130 (±4.0)Manufacture of sugar (15.8 hour)Sugar processers and refiners (7–72)
Bakeries48441.07(0.64–1.81)
49 (±7.4)Bakery and bakery confectionery (15.8C)Bakers, pastry cooks and confectionery makers (7–76)
Grain transport8140.4(0.13–1.23)
2150 (±9.0)Growing of cereals and other crops n.e.c. (01.1A)Farm machinery operators (628)
Growing of fruit (except grapes) (01.1F)Motor vehicle drivers (9–85.50/60)
Agricultural service activities (01.4A)
Manufacture of grain mill products. starches and starch products (1.56*)
Slaughterhouses30251.07(0.55–2.09)
51 (±6.8)Production and preserving of meat (15.1A)Butchers and meat preparers (7–73)
Production and preserving of poultry meat (15.1C)
Meat processing22191.41(0.63–3.13)
23 (±3.6)Industrial production of meat products (15.1E)Butchers and meat preparers (7–73)
Cooked meats production and trade (15.1F)
Waste collection and treatment 26430.51(0.27–0.95)
Waste collection and treatmentSewage and refuse disposal. sanitation and similar activities (90.0*)Charworkers, cleaners and related workers (5–52)
103 (±3.1)Stationary engine and related equipment operators not elsewhere classified (9–69.50/60/90)
Material handling equipment operators not elsewhere classified (9–79.30/90)
Motor vehicle drivers (9–85.50/60/90)
Labourers (9–99.10)
Wood industry
Sawmills80691.36(0.9–2.07)
190 (±5.7)Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture;Sawyers, plywood makers and related wood-processing workers (7–32)
manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials (20*)Cabinet makers and related woodworkers (8–1)
Carpenters, joiners and parquetry workers (9–54)
Textile industry
Cotton19171.03(0.28–3.74)
4540 (±15)Preparation and spinning of textile fibres (17.1A/M)Fibre preparers (7–51‡ excluding 7–51.20)
Cotton-type weaving (17.2A)Spinners and winders (7–52)
Manufacture of made-up textile articles, except apparel (17.4*)Weavers and related workers (7–54)
Manufacture of other textiles (17.5A/C/E/G)Spinners, weavers, knitters, dyers and related workers not elsewhere classified (7–59.20/25)
Wool1282.25(0.75–6.75)
83 (±24)Preparation and spinning of textile fibres (17.1C/E/F)Fibre preparers (7–51)
Textile weaving (17.2C/E)Spinners and winders (7–52)
Manufacture of carpets and rugs (17.5A)Knitters (7–55)
Manufacture of knitted and crocheted fabrics (17.6Z)Spinners, weavers, knitters, dyers and related workers not elsewhere classified (7–59)
Manufacture of knitted and crocheted hosiery (17.7A)
Manufacture of knitted and crocheted pullovers, cardigans and similar articles (17.7C)
Medical/veterinary/research sectors
Veterinary clinics13--
2.9 (±2.1)Veterinary activities (85.2Z)Veterinarians (0–65)
Veterinary assistants (0–66)
Practical aid (veterinary) (5–99.60)
Dental offices652.73(0.65–11.04)
4.1 (±3.3)Dental practice activities (85.1E)Dentists (0–63)
Dental assistants (0–64)
Nursing aids (5–99.40)
Other industries
Cigarette/cigar manufacture4---
29 (±3.5)Manufacture of tobacco products (16.0*)Tobacco preparers and tobacco product makers (7–8)
Paper factory18171.13(0.46–2.78)
69 (±7)Manufacture of pulp, paper and paper products (21*)Paper pulp preparers(7–33)
Paper makers (7–34)
Paper and paperboard products makers (9–1)
  • *All four-digit codes within that code were considered. 

  • †all five-digit codes within that code were considered.

  • ‡Concentrations of airborne endotoxins expressed as endotoxins units (EU)/m3

  • §OR adjusted for age at interview, department, sex, Comprehensive Smoking Index (CSI), number of job periods, education and occupational exposure to asbestos. The never exposed to endotoxins are always the reference group. 

  • ¶Never means having no job in work environment group potentially exposed to endotoxins. 

  • **Ever means having held at least one job in work environment group potentially exposed to endotoxins. 

  • ††Subjects, having declared a number of heads higher than the median for the specific questionnaire, were also included.

  • ISCO: International Standard Classification of Occupations; NAF: Nomenclature d’Activités Françaises.