A quantitative risk assessment of sinonasal cancer as a function of time in workers occupationally exposed to wood dust

• Main Author: Renata Soćko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 2021-08-01
• Series: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Subjects: occupational exposure; risk assessment; wood dust; mathematical models; carcinogenicity; nasal cancer
• Online Access: http://ijomeh.eu/A-quantitative-risk-assessment-of-sinonasal-cancer-as-a-function-of-time-in-workers,130672,0,2.html

Objectives The aim of this study is to conduct a quantitative assessment of the risk related to occupational exposure to wood dust and the occurrence of sinonasal epithelial cancer (SNEC) by histotype, depending on the duration of exposure, using mathematical models. Material and Methods The relationship between the occurrence of SNEC by histotype (adenocarcinoma [AR] and tumors of other histotypes) and exposure to wood dust has been studied using the values of the odds ratios for individual periods of employment involving exposure to wood dust, and their 95% confidence intervals. The dose-response curves were constructed (more precisely, the duration of exposure-response curves). The author attempted to match the linear, quadratic or exponential models. Results In all SNEC cases, there is a relationship between the duration of occupational exposure to wood dust and the relative risk of developing cancer. The estimated relative risk of developing AR after 35 years of exposure to wood dust is about 300, and the estimated risk of developing SNEC is 50, compared to non-exposed people for whom the relative risk is equal to 1. However, the relative risk of developing other types of cancer is <20, also in comparison with non-exposed people. Conclusions The author has identified a relationship between the duration of occupational exposure to wood dust and the relative risk of developing cancer in all SNEC cases. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(4):541–9