Lung cancer mortality among women employed in high-risk industries and occupations in Harris County, Texas, 1977-1980.

Lung cancer is rapidly becoming the leading cause of cancer mortality among women. Interviews conducted with 259 women with lung cancer and 278 women without lung cancer or with their next-of-kin in Harris County, Texas from July 1, 1977 to June 30, 1980 revealed that 12 (4.6%) of the women with lung cancer had never smoked cigarettes. The odds ratio (OR) for current smoking was 15.7. Odds ratios for smoking for living women (OR = 17.5) were higher than for those who were deceased (OR = 12.6). Lifetime occupational histories were classified a priori into high- and low-risk categories. Data were stratified according to employment in a high-risk industry or occupation, a high-risk industry, a high-risk occupation, or both a high-risk industry and occupation. Although not statistically significant, odds ratios for employment in high-risk categories support earlier estimates that attributed 5% of lung cancer mortality in women to employment in hazardous occupations. Employment of a husband or household member in selected industries and occupations yielded significantly increased odds ratios. More cases (15.9%) than controls (6.9%) reported a family history of lung cancer (OR = 2.4). No significant increase in smoking-adjusted odds ratios was found for the use of hair spray, hand-held dryers, or alcohol, or for having lived with a household member who smoked cigarettes.