A pilot study on respiratory and digestive tract cancer among woodworkers.

Abstract

Cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses is a known occupational hazard among workers in the furniture industry. An increased frequency of cancer at other sites had occurred among different types of woodworkers in the USA including: cancer of gastrointestinal tract and lung and lymphatic and hematopoietic malignancies. This case-referent study was of a pilot character and was undertaken for further elucidation of respiratory and digestive tract cancer among Swedish woodworkers. A 4-fold excess of respiratory cancer other than nasal cancer was found, particularly in relation to furniture workers but no definite excess of digestive tract cancer.