RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Occupational exposure to asbestos and man-made vitreous fibres and risk of lung cancer: a multicentre case-control study in Europe JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine JO Occup Environ Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 502 OP 508 DO 10.1136/oem.2006.027748 VO 64 IS 8 A1 Carel, Rafael A1 Olsson, Ann C A1 Zaridze, David A1 Szeszenia-Dabrowska, Neonila A1 Rudnai, Peter A1 Lissowska, Jolanta A1 Fabianova, Eleonora A1 Cassidy, Adrian A1 Mates, Dana A1 Bencko, Vladimir A1 Foretova, Lenka A1 Janout, Vladimir A1 Fevotte, Joelle A1 Fletcher, Tony A1 Mannetje, Andrea ’t A1 Brennan, Paul A1 Boffetta, Paolo YR 2007 UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/64/8/502.abstract AB Objectives: To investigate the contribution of occupational exposure to asbestos and man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) to lung cancer in high-risk populations in Europe. Methods: A multicentre case-control study was conducted in six Central and Eastern European countries and the UK, during the period 1998–2002. Comprehensive occupational and sociodemographic information was collected from 2205 newly diagnosed male lung cancer cases and 2305 frequency matched controls. Odds ratios (OR) of lung cancer were calculated after adjusting for other relevant occupational exposures and tobacco smoking. Results: The OR for asbestos exposure was 0.92 (95% CI 0.73 to 1.15) in Central and Eastern Europe and 1.85 (95% CI 1.07 to 3.21) in the UK. Similar ORs were found for exposure to amphibole asbestos. The OR for MMVF exposure was 1.23 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.71) with no evidence of heterogeneity by country. No synergistic effect either between asbestos and MMVF or between any of them and smoking was found. Conclusion: In this large community-based study occupational exposure to asbestos and MMVF does not appear to contribute to the lung cancer burden in men in Central and Eastern Europe. In contrast, in the UK the authors found an increased risk of lung cancer following exposure to asbestos. Differences in fibre type and circumstances of exposure may explain these results.