[Occupational risk factors for lung cancer--a case-control study, Lódź industrial center]

The objective of this work was to investigate the association between occupational exposure and lung cancer risk based on a case-control study.

The study of 414 primary lung cancer cases, recorded in the Lódź industrial center in the years 1998-2002, was carried out under the international multicentre case-control study, coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The control group, composed of individuals who did not report any tobacco-related diseases or other cancers, were matched by gender and age. Data on lung cancer risk factors were derived from a questionnaire survey on life styles and occupational exposure. The detailed information on the occupational history of all the study subjects and exposure to lung carcinogens was collected and subsequently assessed by occupational hygienists. Logistic regression was used in the data analysis. Confounders, such as age, gender, education, diet and cigarette smoking were controlled in the analysis.

A total of 88 case patients and 79 controls had been employed in occupations and industries associated with the evidenced or suspected risk of lung cancer development. The corresponding odds ratio was 0.71 (95%CI: 0.48-1.06). The study population was mostly exposed to organic dust, lubricating oil mist, sand, mild steel dust, organic solvents and abrasives dust.

The present study provides evidence that occupational exposure in the investigated Lódź industrial center is responsible for a moderate increase in lung cancer risk among exposed persons. However, only a small fraction of the study population was exposed to well documented carcinogens.