A case-control study of nasal cancers. An occupational survey

A case-control study on the possible association between nasal cancers (NC) and occupations was undertaken for 107 male patients with nasal or paranasal cancer and 413 patients with other otorhinolaryngological disease (controls) admitted during the past 10 years to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tohoku University Hospital. The controls were matched by sex, age, and time of admission. However, in the occupational groups surveyed, no evidence such as reported in England and other countries was obtained that could confirm the relationship between nasal/paranasal cancers and woodwork (especially furniture making). Although the relative risk of NC for farmers, foresters, carpenters and plasterers was found to be approximately 2, occupational exposure was hardly considered to be a likely cause. Instead, some common factors involved in the life style including dietary customs of people engaged in these occupations seemed to play a role in the increased relative risks.