Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Occupation and larynx and hypopharynx cancer: an international case–control study in France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland

  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: To estimate risks for laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer associated with occupational titles and industrial activities. Methods: A multicentre population-based case-control study was conducted in the early 1980s in six southern European areas. Analyses included 1010 male cases and 2176 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) (adjusted for age, study area, tobacco consumption, and alcohol consumption) were estimated for 156 occupations and 70 industrial activities. Results: An excess risk has been confirmed for categories of construction workers, potters (OR: 5.91, 95% confidence intervals 1.46-24.0), butchers (2.53, 1.22–5.22), barbers (2.33, 1.00–5.40), laborers not otherwise specified (1.52, 1.12–2.06), as well as for men who had been employed in railway transport (1.52, 0.97–2.39), shipbuilding (2.05, 0.89–4.94), and hotels (2.06, 0.89–4.75). An association was also found for shoe finishers (3.23, 0.75–13.9), loggers (2.07, 0.87–4.90), and some groups of metal workers. ORs for loggers, butchers, railway transport workers, laborers, and reinforced concreters increased with duration of employment. The suggestion of a risk for machine operators among woodworkers (3.10, 0.92–10.5) conflicts with previous findings. No significant excess of risk was found for categories previously reported to be associated with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, such as drivers, mechanics, welders, machinists, and painters. Conclusions: The present study provides additional evidence to the hypothesis of a risk of cancer of the larynx/hypopharynx for workers engaged in jobs in the construction, metal, textile, ceramic, and food industries and in railway transport. Loggers were also found at risk; a previously unreported finding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>References

  1. </Emphasis>International Agency for Research on Cancer(<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>1986<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>, Vol. <Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>38<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>Tobacco Smoking<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>.

    Google Scholar 

  2. </Emphasis>International Agency for Research on Cancer(<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>1988<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>, Vol. <Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>44<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>Alcohol Drinking<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer<Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>.

    Google Scholar 

  3. </Emphasis>Tuyns AJ,<Emphasis Type="Bold"> </Emphasis>Estéve J,<Emphasis Type="Bold"> </Emphasis>Raymond L, <Emphasis Type="Bold"></Emphasis>et al. (1988) Cancer of the larynx/ hypopharynx, tobacco and alcohol: IARCInternational case-control study in Turin and Varese (Italy), Zaragoza and Navarra (Spain), Geneva (Switzerland) and Calvados (France).Int J Cancer 41: 483-491.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Esteve J,Riboli E,Péquignot G, et al. (1996) Diet and cancers of the larynx and hypopharynx: the IARCmulti-centre study in southwestern Europe. Cancer Causes Control 7: 240-252.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ferrario F,Continenza D,Pisani P,Magnani C,Merletti F,Berrino F (1988) Description of a job exposure matrix for sixteen agents which are or may be related to respiratory cancer. In: Hogstedt C, ed. Progress in Occupational Epidemiology. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 379-382.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Parkin DM,Whelan SL,Ferlay J,Raymond L,Young J (1997) Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol V11. IARCScientific Publication No. 143. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kogevinas M,Sala M,Boffetta P,Kazerouni N,Kromhout H,Hoar-Zahm S (1998) Cancer risk in the rubber industry: a review of the recent epidemiological evidence. Occup Environ Med 55: 1-12.

    Google Scholar 

  8. INSERM (1997) Effets sur la santé des principaux types d'exposition à l'amiante. Rapport établi à la demande de la Direction des Relations du Travail et de la Direction Générale de la Santé. Paris: Editions INSERM.

    Google Scholar 

  9. International Agency for Research on Cancer(1992) IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans, Vol. 54: Occupational Exposures to Mists and Vapours from Strong Inorganic Acids; and Other Industrial Chemicals. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bravo MP,Espinosa J,Calero JR (1990) Occupational risk factors for cancer of the larynx in Spain. Neoplasma 37: 477-481.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Flanders WD,Rothman KJ (1982) Occupational risk for laryngeal cancer. Am J Public Health 72: 369-372.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Flanders WD,Cann CI,Rothman KJ,Fried MP (1984) Workrelated risk factors for laryngeal cancer. Am J Epidemiol 119: 23-32.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Olsen J,Sabroe S (1984) Occupational causes of laryngeal cancer. J Epidemiol Commun Health 38: 117-121.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Zagraniski RT,Kelsey JL,Walter SD (1986) Occupational risk factors for laryngeal carcinoma: Connecticut, 1975-1980. Am J Epidemiol 124: 67-76.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Brown LM,Mason TJ,Pickle LW, et al. (1988) Occupational risk factors for laryngeal cancer on the Texas Gulf Coast. Cancer Res 48: 1960-1964.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Haguenoer JM,Cordier S,Morel C,Lefebvre JL,Hemon D (1990) Occupational risk factors for upper respiratory tract and upper digestive tract cancers. Br J Ind Med 47: 380-383.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ahrens W,Jöckel K-H,Patzak W,Elsner G (1991) Alcohol, smoking, and occupational factors in cancer of the larynx: a case-control studyì. Am J Ind Med 20: 477-493.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Muscat JE,Wynder EL (1992) Tobacco, alcohol, asbestos, and occupational risk factors for laryngeal cancer. Cancer 69: 2244-2251.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Wortley P,Vaughan TL,Davis S,Morgan MS,Thomas DB (1992) A case-control study of occupational risk factors for laryngeal cancer. Br J Ind Med 49: 837-844.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zheng W,Blot WJ,Shu X-O, et al. (1992) Diet and other risk factors for laryngeal cancer in Shanghai, China. Am J Epidemiol 136: 178-191.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Goldberg P,Leclerc A,Luce D,Morcet JF,Brugere J (1997) Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer and occupation: results of a case-control study. Occup Environ Med 54: 477-482.

    Google Scholar 

  22. De Stefani E,Boffetta P,Oreggia F,Ronco A,Kogevinas M,Mendilaharsu M (1998) Occupation and the risk of laryngeal cancer in Uruguay. Am J Ind Med 33: 537-542.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Berrino F,Richiardi L,Boffetta P, et al. (2003) Occupation and larynx and hypopharynx cancer: a job-exposure matrix approach in an international Case-Control study in France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. Cancer Causes Control 14: 213-223.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Berrino F,Merletti F,Zubiri A, et al. (1988) A comparative study of smoking, drinking and dietary habits in population samples in France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. II. Tobacco smoking. Rev Epidemiol Santé Publ 36: 166-176.

    Google Scholar 

  25. International Labour Office(1968) International Standard Classification of Occupations. Geneva: International Labour Office.

    Google Scholar 

  26. United Nations Statistical Office(1968) International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities. New York: United Nationals Statistical Office.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Breslow NE,Day NE (1980) Statistical Methods in Cancer Research, Vol 1: The Analysis of Case-Control Studies. IARC Scientific Publication No 32. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Payne CD (1985) The GLIM System. Release 3.77. Oxford: Numerical Algorithms Group.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Giordano L,Merletti F,Boffetta P,Terracini B (1990) Influenza di variabili socio-demografiche nel reclutamento dei soggetti in uno studio caso-controllo di popolazione. Epidemiol Prev 44: 7-12.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Coggon D,Pannett B,Osmond C,Acheson ED (1986) A survey of cancer and occupation in young and middle aged men. I. Cancers of the respiratory tract. Br J Ind Med 43: 332-338.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Decoufle P (1979) Cancer risks associated with employment in the leather and leather products industry. Arch Environ Health 34: 33-37.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Boffetta P,Gridley G,Gustavsson P, et al. (2000) Employment as butcher and cancer risk in a record-linkage study from Sweden. Cancer Causes Control 11: 627-631.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Guberan E,Usel M,Raymond L,Fioretta G (1993) Mortality and incidence of cancer among a cohort of self employed butchers from Geneva and their wives. Br J Ind Med 50: 1008-1016.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Coggon D,Wield G (1995) Mortality of butchers and cooks identified from the 1961 census of England and Wales. Occup Environ Med 52: 157-159.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Foppa I,Minder CE (1992) Oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer as a cause of death among Swiss. Scand J Work Environ Health 18: 287-292.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kjaerheim K,Andersen A (1993) Incidence of cancer among male waiters and cooks: two Norwegian cohorts. Cancer Causes Control 4: 419-426.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Engholm G,Englund A (1995) Morbidity and mortality patterns in Sweden. Occup Med 10: 261-268.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Simonato L,Fletcher AC,Andersen A, et al. (1991) A historical prospective study of European stainless steel, mild steel and shipyard welders. Br J Ind Med 48: 145-154.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Olsen J,Sabroe S,Lajer M (1984) Welding and cancer of the larynx: a case-control study. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 20: 639-643.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Viadana E,Bross ID,Houten L (1976) Cancer experience of men exposed to inhalation of chemicals or to combustion products. J Occup Med 18: 787-792.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Skov T,Lynge E (1994) Cancer risk and exposures to carcinogens in hairdressers. Skin Pharmacol 7: 94-100.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Guberan E,Raymond L,Sweetnam PM (1985) Increased risk for male bladder cancer among a cohort of male and female hairdressers from Geneva. Int J Epidemiol 14: 549-554.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Demers PA,Boffetta P,Kogevinas M, et al. (1995) Pooled reanalysis of cancer mortality among five cohorts of workers in wood-related industries. Scand J Work Environ Health 21: 179-190.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Pukkala E (1995) Cancer Risk by Social Class and Occupation. A survey of 109.000 cancer cases among Finns of working age. Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Robinson C,Stern F,Halperin W, et al. (1995) Assessment of mortality in the construction industry in the United States: 1984-1986. Am J Ind Med 28: 49-70.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Dong W,Vaughan P,Sullivan K,Fletcher T (1995) Mortality study of construction workers in the UK. Int J Epidemiol 24: 750-757.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France

    Paolo Boffetta, Jacques Estéve, Paola Pisani & Albert Tuyns

  2. Department of Medical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Paolo Boffetta

  3. Unit of Cancer Epidemiology CeRMS and Centre for Oncologic Prevention, University of Turin, Italy

    Lorenzo Richiardi, Benedetto Terracini & Franco Merletti

  4. Department of Medical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Lorenzo Richiardi

  5. National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy

    Franco Berrino & Paolo Crosignani

  6. Lyon University, Lyon, France

    Jacques Estéve

  7. Geneva Cancer Registry, Geneva, Switzerland

    Luc Raymond

  8. Zaragoza Cancer Registry, Zaragoza, Spain

    Lourdes Zubiri

  9. Institute of Public Health, Pamplona, Spain

    Angel Del Moral

  10. ENT Clinic, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

    Willy Lehmann

  11. University of Brescia, Italy

    Francesco Donato

Authors
  1. Paolo Boffetta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lorenzo Richiardi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Franco Berrino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jacques Estéve
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Paola Pisani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Paolo Crosignani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Luc Raymond
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Lourdes Zubiri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Angel Del Moral
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Willy Lehmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Francesco Donato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Benedetto Terracini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Albert Tuyns
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Franco Merletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franco Merletti.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Boffetta, P., Richiardi, L., Berrino, F. et al. Occupation and larynx and hypopharynx cancer: an international case–control study in France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. Cancer Causes Control 14, 203–212 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023699717598

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023699717598

Search

Navigation