Occupational exposure and lung cancer risk - Study in two different Romanian areas

Lung cancer is the most frequent neoplasm worldwide and the incidence in Constanta County is in continuous increasing. Occupation as a cause of lung cancer is common. The authors examined the relation between occupation and lung cancer in two patient cohorts from different areas of Romania: Constanta and Valcea. In 2005-2010, in Constanta and Valcea counties, 488 and 344 incident lung cancer cases were enrolled. Lifetime occupational histories (industry and job title) were coded by using standard international classifications and were translated into occupations known (list A) or suspected (list B) to be associated with lung cancer. An exposure excess of 14.6% for patients from Constanta ever employed in occupations known to be associated with lung cancer (list A) was found, with the largest contributions from the oil refinery and shipbuilding industries No overall excess was found for list B with the exception of bus and truck drivers (men) and launderers and dry cleaners (women), in both groups of patients. These results indicate that past exposure to occupational carcinogens remains an important determinant of lung cancer occurrence.