Abstract
BackgroundNon-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most frequent tumour among Caucasian populations worldwide. Among the risk factors associated with this tumour, there are host-related factors and several environmental agents. A greater likelihood of high exposure to physical agents (with the exception of solar radiation) and chemical agents depends on the work setting. Our objective is to evaluate the role of occupational exposures in NMSC, with special emphasis on risk factors other than solar radiation and skin type.MethodsWe analysed 1585 cases (1333 basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 183 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)) and 1507 controls drawn from the Helios-I multicenter study. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression mixed models.ResultsFor NMSC as a whole (both histological types), miners and quarrymen, secondary education teachers, and masons registered excess risk, regardless of exposure to solar radiation and skin type (OR 7.04, 95% CI 2.44–20.31; OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.05–2.89 and OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.04–2.27, respectively). Frequency of BCC proved higher among railway engine drivers and firemen (OR 4.55; 95% CI 0.96–21.57), specialised farmers (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.05–2.59) and salesmen (OR 3.02; 95% CI 1.05–2.86), in addition to miners and quarrymen and secondary education teachers (OR 7.96; 95% CI 2.72–23.23 and OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.05–2.94 respectively). The occupations that registered a higher risk of SCC (though not of BCC) were those involving direct contact with livestock, construction workers not elsewhere classified (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.12–7.74), stationary engine and related equipment operators not elsewhere classified (OR 5.31, 95% CI 1.13–21.04) and masons (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.36–4.78).ConclusionExposure to hazardous air pollutants, arsenic, ionizing radiations and burns may explain a good part of the associations observed in this study. The Helios study affords an excellent opportunity for further in-depth study of physical and chemical agents and NMSC based on matrices of occupational exposure.
Highlights
Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most frequent tumour among Caucasian populations worldwide
The occupations that registered a higher risk of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were those involving direct contact with livestock, and the groups encompassing other construction workers not elsewhere classified (ISCO: 959) and stationary engine and related equipment operators not elsewhere classified (ISCO: 969)
The results of our study show a strong association between the occupation of miner and both histologic types of NMSC, with the strength of association for basal cell carcinomas (BCC) being double that for SCC
Summary
Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most frequent tumour among Caucasian populations worldwide. Our objective is to evaluate the role of occupational exposures in NMSC, with special emphasis on risk factors other than solar radiation and skin type. Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most frequent tumour among Caucasian populations worldwide. As one of the basic data sources for identification of cases in population cancer registries are hospital and pathology records, the fact that non-melanoma skin cancer is often not grounds for hospital admission may well lead to under-registration of cases. Variability in incidence rates is very marked, something that might in part be due to greater or lesser comprehensiveness of the case registry, as well as differences in risk among populations. In surveys conducted in Australia, annual incidence rates were estimated to exceed 1,000 per 100,000 population [3,4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
