Nasal Cancer Associated with Occupational Exposure to Organic Dust

Abstract

In order to study the association of carcinoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses with occupational exposure to dust, the cancer registry of the National Board of Health and Welfare was consulted as information source. The material was divided into two groups, the first consisting of consecutive cases of adenocarcinoma from 1961 until 1971, and the second of cases of squamous cell and poorly differentiated carcinoma from 1965 until 1971. The first group consisted of 36 men and 10 women, the latter of 127 men and 85 women. Information about previous and present occupation was obtained by questionnaire and from personal records of the population registry of the Swedish Church. The predominant occupational group among men with adenocarcinoma was joiners, who comprised 19 cases (53%). At least 12 of these had been cabinet makers. The period of exposure to wood dust among the joiners was known in 9 cases and was estimated in most of the cases. The duration of exposure was not less than 25 years in any case. Most joiners had been working with different species of hard wood. There was no predominant occupational group among men with squamous cell and poorly differentiated carcinoma, although the occupations recorded were in many cases associated with a working environment containing various kinds of organic dust. Among the females with squamous cell and poorly differentiated carcinoma there were a number of cases who had occupations associated with organic dust, such as textile work, leather, and flour handling. The investigation shows that the bulk of males with adenocarcinoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses had been exposed to wood dust.