Occupation and upper aerodigestive tract cancers: a follow-up study in Sweden.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to examine the associations between occupation and upper aerodigestive tract cancers at various anatomic sites.

METHODS

The Swedish Family-Cancer Database was used to calculate standardized incidence ratios for different occupational groups, adjusted for age, period, and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

Male dentists showed an increased risk for tongue cancer; hairdressers had an increased risk for tongue and larynx cancers among men and pharynx cancer among women; launderers and dry cleaners showed an increased risk for pharynx cancer among men and lip cancer among women; outdoor occupations such as fishermen, seamen, transport, and construction workers showed increased risks for lip cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Although smoking and alcohol drinking can explain some of these results, increased risks found for dentists, hairdressers, and launderers and dry cleaners may partly be explained by their work-related exposures; increased risks of lip cancer in outdoor occupations can be explained by sunlight exposure.