Cancer of the larynx: occupational and environmental associations

This paper briefly reviews the available evidence for the influence of environmental and occupational factors in the development of cancer of the larynx. Although several occupational exposures have been suggested to play a role in the etiology of this disease, few have been convincingly confirmed. The strong association between smoking and cancer of the larynx, the weaker but still important association between alcohol consumption and cancer of the larynx, and the strong synergism between the two is emphasized. Other accepted or suspected environmental and occupational factors are also discussed.