Occupational risks of esophageal cancer in Taiwanese men

Abstract

This study aims to explore whether certain occupations were associated with the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Taiwan. In a hospital-based case-control study, we collected 326 newly diagnosed ESCC patients and 386 age-matched controls (the ratio of case patients: controls = 1:1–2). All respondents completed a questionnaire, including 33 occupations in which environments potential exposure to cancer-related hazards are present. Workers with dust and metal exposure were categorized into Groups A and B, respectively. Relative risks for ESCC were estimated by odds ratios adjusting for covariates (AOR). Compared with the controls, farmer/gardener (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.02–4.24) and workers in Group A (AOR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.21–6.47) had significantly higher risk for developing ESCC. A tendency of increased risk was also found in workers in group B (OR = 5.72 95% CI = 2.33–14.03), but such association was not significant after adjusting for other covariates (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI = 0.54–6.61). Our results suggested that farmer/gardener and workers with exposure to dust had a significant excess risk of ESCC. This study added further evidence to the current knowledge that occupational hazards are important in the development of ESCC.

Keywords

• ESCC
• Esophageal cancer
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Occupation