BACKGROUND: Occupational exposures and physical activity have been considered as risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer. METHODS: A case-control study on working conditions and the risk of colon and rectal cancer was performed in southeastern Sweden during 1984-86. Involved were 177 patients, 98 with colon cancer and 79 with rectal cancer, and two groups of control subjects, 371 hospital control subjects and 430 population control subjects. RESULTS: A significantly decreased risk of left-sided colon cancer was observed in persons involved in more than 20 years of physically active work and a significantly decreased risk of rectal cancer in persons involved in more than 20 years of sedentary work. A tendency toward increased risk was seen for colon cancer in male railroad workers and in male gas station workers. A reduced risk of rectal cancer was found for drivers, textile workers, and administration workers, whereas an increased risk of rectal cancer appeared among paper workers and assistant nurses. A low risk of both colon and rectal cancer was found among construction workers and forestry workers. Exposure to asbestos carried a slightly increased risk of colon cancer, whereas exposure to solvents slightly decreased the risk of rectal cancer. CONCLUSION: This study confirms earlier findings that physical activity decreases the risk for left-sided colon cancer, but also suggests that occupational factors influence the risk of colon and rectal cancer in different ways.
BACKGROUND: Occupational exposures and physical activity have been considered as risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer. METHODS: A case-control study on working conditions and the risk of colon and rectal cancer was performed in southeastern Sweden during 1984-86. Involved were 177 patients, 98 with colon cancer and 79 with rectal cancer, and two groups of control subjects, 371 hospital control subjects and 430 population control subjects. RESULTS: A significantly decreased risk of left-sided colon cancer was observed in persons involved in more than 20 years of physically active work and a significantly decreased risk of rectal cancer in persons involved in more than 20 years of sedentary work. A tendency toward increased risk was seen for colon cancer in male railroad workers and in male gas station workers. A reduced risk of rectal cancer was found for drivers, textile workers, and administration workers, whereas an increased risk of rectal cancer appeared among paper workers and assistant nurses. A low risk of both colon and rectal cancer was found among construction workers and forestry workers. Exposure to asbestos carried a slightly increased risk of colon cancer, whereas exposure to solvents slightly decreased the risk of rectal cancer. CONCLUSION: This study confirms earlier findings that physical activity decreases the risk for left-sided colon cancer, but also suggests that occupational factors influence the risk of colon and rectal cancer in different ways.
Authors: Lifang Hou; Won Jin Lee; Jennifer Rusiecki; Jane A Hoppin; Aaron Blair; Matthew R Bonner; Jay H Lubin; Claudine Samanic; Dale P Sandler; Mustafa Dosemeci; Michael C R Alavanja Journal: Epidemiology Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 4.822
Authors: Won Jin Lee; Dale P Sandler; Aaron Blair; Claudine Samanic; Amanda J Cross; Michael C R Alavanja Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2007-07-15 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: Gonzalo López-Abente; Javier García-Pérez; Pablo Fernández-Navarro; Elena Boldo; Rebeca Ramis Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-08-01 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: M Fredrikson; O Axelson; X F Sun; G Arbman; E Nilsson; B Nordenskjöld; R Sjödahl; P Söderkvist Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 1996-06 Impact factor: 7.640