Cancer of the Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Pet Dogs

Abstract

A case-control study of nasal cancer in pet dogs was conducted to test the hypothesis that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke increases risk. Cases (n = 103) were selected from a teaching hospital during 1986-1990. Controls (n = 378) with other forms of cancer were selected from the same study base. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was evaluated by determining the number of smokers in the household, the packs of cigarettes smoked per day at home by each smoker, the number of years that each person smoked during the dog's lifetime, and the proportion of time spent indoors by the dog. The crude odds ratio for exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was 1.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-1.8) and was unchanged after adjustment for confounders. Skull shape was found to exert a pronounced modifying effect; among dolichocephalic (long-nosed) dogs, the odds ratio for a smoker in the house was 2.0 (95% CI 1.0-4.1). A monotonic increase in the odds ratios across strata of total packs smoked and total indoor exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was found in this group of dogs, with risks of approximately 2.5 for the highest stratum. Conversely, all odds ratios for exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among short- and medium-length-nosed dogs were approximately 0.5. The data support an association between environmental tobacco smoke and canine nasal cancer.

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke

“…In one study, sinonasal cancers occurred more frequently in pet dogs of long-nosed breeds which lived in homes with at least one smoker (Reif et al, 1998), but no such excess risk was seen in a second study (Bukowski et al, 1998). A marginal excess risk of lung cancer was observed in dogs aged 10 years or less and exposed to household tobacco smoke in one study (Reif et al, 1992).…”

Assessing effects of structural zeros on models of canine cancer incidence: a case study of the Swiss Canine Cancer Registry

“…For instance, studies have indicated that breed, sex, and age are important demographic determinants of several canine cancers (Bronson, 1982;Eichelberg and Seine, 1996;Lund et al, 1999;Michell, 1999;Proschowsky et al, 2003). Studies have also shown that a number of canine cancers can be linked to specific environmental determinants, such as exposure to tobacco smoke (Reif et al, 1998), combustion products (Bukowski et al, 1998), herbicides (Hayes et al, 1981), insecticides (Glickman et al, 1989), asbestos (Glickman et al, 1983), as well as paints and solvents (Gavazza et al, 2001). As such exposures mostly occur within a living environment shared with the owner, epidemiological research of canine cancers might also inform comparative studies of environmental determinants for human cancers, for instance, in the bladder (Hayes et al, 1981;Glickman et al, 1989), respiratory tract (Bukowski et al, 1998;Reif et al, 1998) and mammary gland (Owen, 1979;Vascellari et al, 2016).…”

“…Studies have also shown that a number of canine cancers can be linked to specific environmental determinants, such as exposure to tobacco smoke (Reif et al, 1998), combustion products (Bukowski et al, 1998), herbicides (Hayes et al, 1981), insecticides (Glickman et al, 1989), asbestos (Glickman et al, 1983), as well as paints and solvents (Gavazza et al, 2001). As such exposures mostly occur within a living environment shared with the owner, epidemiological research of canine cancers might also inform comparative studies of environmental determinants for human cancers, for instance, in the bladder (Hayes et al, 1981;Glickman et al, 1989), respiratory tract (Bukowski et al, 1998;Reif et al, 1998) and mammary gland (Owen, 1979;Vascellari et al, 2016). Despite the recognised advantages of such comparative studies (Schmidt, 2009;Scotch et al, 2009;Reif, 2011), this approach is currently limited because canine cancer data sources are still few in number and often incomplete (Brønden et al, 2007;Nødtvedt et al, 2012).…”

Spinal hyperostosis in humans and companion animals

“…For over 15,000 years, companion animals and their masters have been subjected to similar environmental influences including nutritional and toxic substances (Reif et al 1992;Vila et al 1997;Reif et al 1998;Savolainen et al 2002). During recent decades, both humans and their pets have enjoyed an extended life span and have simultaneously grown more obese (German 2006;Gunn-Moore 2006;National Research Council 2006).…”