Occupational risk factors for lung cancer among nonsmoking women: a case-control study in Missouri (United States)

Occupationally related risk of lung cancer among women and among nonsmokers has not been widely studied. A recently conducted population-based, case-control study in Missouri (United States) provided the opportunity to evaluate risk of lung cancer associated with several occupational factors. Incident cases (n=429) were identified through the Missouri Cancer Registry for the period 1986 through 1991, and included 294 lifetime nonsmokers and 135 ex-smokers who had stopped at least 15 years prior to diagnosis or had smoked for less than one pack-year. Controls (n=1,021) were selected through driver's license and Medicare files. Risk was elevated among women exposed to asbestos (ever: odds ratio [OR]=3.5, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]=1.2-10.0; >9 yrs: OR=4.6, CI=1.1-19.2) and pesticides (ever: OR=2.4, CI=1.1-5.6; >17.5 yrs: OR=2.4, CI=0.8-7.0). Risk also was elevated among dry cleaning workers (ever: OR=1.8, CI=1.1-3.0; >1.125 yrs: OR=2.9, CI=1.5-5.4). Occupational risks for lung cancer among women merit further study.