Journal of Cancer Epidemiology (Jan 2015)

Occupational Exposure to Diesel Motor Exhaust and Lung Cancer: A Dose-Response Relationship Hidden by Asbestos Exposure Adjustment? The ICARE Study

  • Mireille Matrat,
  • Florence Guida,
  • Sylvie Cénée,
  • Joelle Févotte,
  • Matthieu Carton,
  • Diane Cyr,
  • Gwenn Menvielle,
  • Sophie Paget-Bailly,
  • Loredana Radoï,
  • Annie Schmaus,
  • Simona Bara,
  • Michel Velten,
  • Danièle Luce,
  • Isabelle Stücker,
  • The Icare Study Group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/879302
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2015

Abstract

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Background. In a French large population-based case-control study we investigated the dose-response relationship between lung cancer and occupational exposure to diesel motor exhaust (DME), taking into account asbestos exposure. Methods. Exposure to DME was assessed by questionnaire. Asbestos was taken into account through a global indicator of exposure to occupational carcinogens or by a specific JEM. Results. We found a crude dose response relationship with most of the indicators of DME exposure, including with the cumulative exposure index. All results were affected by adjustment for asbestos exposure. The dose response relationships between DME and lung cancer were observed among subjects never exposed to asbestos. Conclusions. Exposure to DME and to asbestos is frequently found among the same subjects, which may explain why dose-response relationships in previous studies that adjusted for asbestos exposure were inconsistent.