OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the risk of cancer among dry cleaners, launderers, and pressers in a large record-linkage study in Sweden. METHODS: The Swedish Cancer Register III contains nationwide data on cancer incidence between 1971 and 1989, by occupation and industry of employment, as reported in the 1960 and 1970 censuses. Dry cleaners, launderers, and pressers were compared with the remaining part of the employed population using multivariable Poisson regression models and standardized incidence ratios. RESULTS: Dry cleaners, launderers, and pressers employed in the laundry, ironing, or dyeing industry in both censuses showed an increased risk of Hodgkin's disease [relative risk (RR) 2.69,95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.01-7.19], an elevated risk of leukemia among women (RR 2.53,95% CI 1.44-4.46), and increased risks of stomach (RR 1.80,95% CI 1.05-3.11) and laryngeal (RR 2.42, 95% CI 0.91-6.45) cancers among men. The results of the analyses of launderers and dry cleaners as a separate occupational group reflected those of the whole exposure group, while pressers showed an elevated lung cancer risk (RR 1.67, 95% CI 0.75-3.72). CONCLUSIONS: If they are not due to chance or confounding, the results of this study reflect either the potentiation of other carcinogens by solvents or direct effects. The results are limited by the use of job and industry titles as proxies for occupational exposures.
OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the risk of cancer among dry cleaners, launderers, and pressers in a large record-linkage study in Sweden. METHODS: The Swedish Cancer Register III contains nationwide data on cancer incidence between 1971 and 1989, by occupation and industry of employment, as reported in the 1960 and 1970 censuses. Dry cleaners, launderers, and pressers were compared with the remaining part of the employed population using multivariable Poisson regression models and standardized incidence ratios. RESULTS: Dry cleaners, launderers, and pressers employed in the laundry, ironing, or dyeing industry in both censuses showed an increased risk of Hodgkin's disease [relative risk (RR) 2.69,95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.01-7.19], an elevated risk of leukemia among women (RR 2.53,95% CI 1.44-4.46), and increased risks of stomach (RR 1.80,95% CI 1.05-3.11) and laryngeal (RR 2.42, 95% CI 0.91-6.45) cancers among men. The results of the analyses of launderers and dry cleaners as a separate occupational group reflected those of the whole exposure group, while pressers showed an elevated lung cancer risk (RR 1.67, 95% CI 0.75-3.72). CONCLUSIONS: If they are not due to chance or confounding, the results of this study reflect either the potentiation of other carcinogens by solvents or direct effects. The results are limited by the use of job and industry titles as proxies for occupational exposures.
Authors: David McLean; Andrea 't Mannetje; Evan Dryson; Chris Walls; Fiona McKenzie; Milena Maule; Soo Cheng; Chris Cunningham; Hans Kromhout; Paolo Boffetta; Aaron Blair; Neil Pearce Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2008-10-25 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Dario Consonni; Sara De Matteis; Jay H Lubin; Sholom Wacholder; Margaret Tucker; Angela Cecilia Pesatori; Neil E Caporaso; Pier Alberto Bertazzi; Maria Teresa Landi Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2010-01-04 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Dominik D Alexander; Michael A Kelsh; Pamela J Mink; Jeffrey H Mandel; Rupa Basu; Michal Weingart Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2007-05-10 Impact factor: 2.851