RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Exposure to crystalline silica in Canadian workplaces and the risk of kidney cancer
JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JO Occup Environ Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 668
OP 671
DO 10.1136/oemed-2019-105870
VO 76
IS 9
A1 Cheryl E Peters
A1 Laura Bogaert
A1 Lidija Latifovic
A1 Linda Kachuri
A1 Shelley A Harris
A1 Marie-Elise Parent
A1 Paul J Villeneuve
A1 ,
YR 2019
UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/76/9/668.abstract
AB Objectives The causes of kidney cancer are not well understood though occupational exposures are thought to play a role. Crystalline silica is a known human carcinogen, and despite previous links with kidney disease, there have been few studies investigating its association with kidney cancer. We addressed this research gap using a population-based case-control study of Canadian men.Methods Questionnaire data were obtained from individuals with histologically confirmed kidney cancer, and population-based controls recruited from eight Canadian provinces (1994–1997). An industrial hygienist characterised participants’ lifetime occupational exposure, and their confidence in the assessment (possibly, probably or definitely exposed) to silica on three dimensions (intensity, frequency and duration), and cumulative exposure was estimated. Logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and 95% CIs, adjusting for potential confounders.Results Nearly half of the 689 kidney cancer cases (49%) and 2369 controls (44%) had ever been occupationally exposed to crystalline silica. In a fully adjusted model, workers ever-exposed to silica had a slightly increased risk of kidney cancer relative to those who were unexposed (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.32). Odds were modestly (and generally not statistically significantly) increased for models with duration of exposure and cumulative exposure, though exposure-response relationships were not evident.Conclusions Our findings do not provide evidence that occupational exposure to crystalline silica increases risk of kidney cancer in men.