Death certificate case-control study of cancers of the prostate and colon and employment in the textile industry.

A case-control study was conducted to investigate possible relationships between employment in the textile industry and cancers of the prostate and colon. Death certificate information on occupation and industry was obtained for 1037 male prostatic cancer cases, 820 male and female colon cases, and matched controls who died during 1970-1978 in South Carolina. Black males were the only race-sex group to show an excess risk of prostate or colon cancer among employees of the textile industry. Nonstatistically significant excesses of prostate cancer were seen in dyeing and finishing businesses and broad woven fabric mills. Overall, there was no strong evidence indicating a relationship between the textile industry and either prostate or colon cancer. It is unlikely that limitations of the data masked real risks since previously reported associations with nontextile industries were confirmed.