Occupational exposure to wood dust and risk of lung cancer in two population-based case–control studies in Montreal, Canada

Abstract

BackgroundWood dust is one of the oldest and one of the most common occupational exposures in the world. The present analyses examine the effect of lifetime exposure to wood dust in diverse occupational settings on lung cancer risk.MethodsWe conducted two population-based case–control studies in Montreal: Study I (1979–1986) included 857 cases and two sets of controls (533 population and 1349 cancer controls), and Study II (1996–2001) comprised 736 cases and 894 population controls. Detailed job histories were obtained by interview and each job was evaluated by expert chemist–hygienists to estimate the likelihood and level of exposure to many substances, one of which was wood dust. Odds ratios (ORs) were computed in relation to different indices of exposure to wood dust, adjusting for several covariates including smoking. Three datasets were analysed: Study I with population controls, Study I with cancer controls, and Study II.ResultsThe most frequently exposed occupations in our study population were in construction, timber and furniture making industries. We found increased risks of lung cancer for substantial cumulative exposure to wood dust in Study I with cancer controls, (OR = 1.4: 95% confidence interval 1.0;-2.0) and in Study II (OR = 1.7: 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.7). There were no excess risks of lung cancer in any of the three datasets among workers whose cumulative exposure was not substantial. These tendencies held equally within strata of low smokers and heavy smokers.ConclusionThere was evidence of increased risk of lung cancer among workers with substantial cumulative exposure to wood dust.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1476-069X-14-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Assessment of occupational exposure to wood dust in the Polish furniture industry

“…Występowanie istotnych statystycznie przypadków raka gruczołowego błony śluzowej i zatok przynosowych wśród pracowników zakładów meblarskich wynosi 5-7 przypadków na 10 tys. narażonych w cią-gu roku i jest ok. 500-krotnie większe niż w populacji ogólnej (1 przypadek na 1 mln osób) [4][5][6]. Badania te wskazują, że przyczyną tego raka jest narażenie na pyły drewna, głównie buku i dębu.…”

“…4 Frakcja wdychalna -frakcja aerozolu wnikająca przez nos i usta, która po zdeponowaniu w drogach oddechowych stwarza zagrożenie dla zdrowia (definicja frakcji wdychalnej odpowiada definicji pyłu całkowitego [16]) / Inhalable fraction -the fraction of aerosol penetrating through the nose and mouth, which when deposited in the respiratory tract presents a risk to health (the definition of the inhalable fraction corresponds to the definition of total dust [16]). 5 Czynnik uczulający astmatycznie, rakotwórczy kategorii A4 / Astmatic agent, carcinogenic agent category A4 [20]. 6 Pyły rakotwórcze dębu i buku kategorii A1; brzozy, mahonii, teku i orzecha włoskiego kategorii A2; wszystkie pyły drewna kategorii A4 / Carcinogenic wood dust of oak and beech category A1; brich, mahogany, teak, walnut category A2; all other wood dust of category A4 [20].…”