Diesel exhaust exposure and lung cancer: a case--control study

The presence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the particulate phase of diesel engine exhaust has raised questions concerning potential carcinogenicity of diesel exhaust exposure. A case-control study was conducted of 502 male lung cancer cases and 502 controls without tobacco-related diseases to investigate the association of occupational diesel exhaust exposure and lung cancer. Diesel exhaust exposure was appraised by job title. The results show no association between diesel exhaust exposure and risk of lung cancer. They do, however, show the strong association between smoking and lung cancer and as such highlight the importance of smoking information in studies of occupational effect on lung cancer risk.