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Avian exposure and bronchogenic carcinoma
A J Gardiner1, B A Forey, P N Lee
1Monklands District General Hospital Medical Unit, Airdrie, Lanarkshire.
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
|October 24, 1992
Summary
Keeping pigeons may increase lung cancer risk, though overall bird keeping shows a weaker association than previously thought. This study investigated bird exposure and lung cancer incidence.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Pet ownership is common, but potential health risks, including cancer, require investigation.
- Previous studies suggested a link between bird keeping and lung cancer, necessitating further research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between domestic bird keeping and the risk of developing lung cancer.
- To identify specific types of birds or exposure levels that may influence lung cancer risk.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed, interviewing patients with lung cancer and matched controls.
- Detailed questionnaires collected data on bird exposure, pet ownership, smoking habits, and demographic factors.
- Statistical analysis, including regression, adjusted for confounding variables like smoking status.
Main Results:
- No significant lung cancer risk was found for general household exposure to pet birds or keeping large numbers of birds.
- While budgerigar and canary exposure showed no association, keeping pigeons was significantly linked to increased lung cancer risk (OR 3.53).
- This association with pigeon keeping remained statistically significant after adjusting for confounding factors (OR 3.9).
Conclusions:
- Bird keeping, particularly pigeon fancying, may represent a risk factor for lung cancer.
- The overall association between bird keeping and lung cancer appears less pronounced than indicated by prior research.