Occupational risk factors for laryngeal cancer on the Texas Gulf Coast

Analyses are reported from a case-control interview study of incident laryngeal cancer on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Study subjects were 183 white men with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and 250 frequency matched controls. Occupational exposures were examined controlling for potential confounding by cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Significantly elevated risks were seen for men employed in the public services industry [transportation, communication, utilities, sanitary service; relative risk (RR), 1.6]; in metal fabricating (RR, 2.1), construction (RR, 1.7), and maintenance (RR, 2.7) occupations; and for workers potentially exposed to paint (RR, 1.8) and diesel or gasoline fumes (RR, 1.5). Elevated risks of border-line significance were seen for men employed as woodworkers/furniture makers (RR, 8.1) and for those with occupational exposure to asbestos (RR, 1.5). When asbestos was categorized by intensity of exposure, a significant positive gradient was found.