Exposure to chlorinated solvents and lung cancer: results of the ICARE study
Menée à l'aide de matrices d'exposition professionnelle et à partir de questionnaires auprès de 2 926 patients atteints d'un cancer du poumon et 3 555 témoins, cette étude française évalue l'association entre une exposition à des solvants chlorés et le risque de développer la maladie
Objective : To investigate the role of occupational exposure to chlorinated solvents in lung cancer aetiology. Methods : ICARE (Investigation of occupational and environmental CAuses of REspiratory cancers) is a French, multicentre, population-based, case–control study. Information on the lifelong work history of 2926 cases and 3555 controls was collected using standardised questionnaires. Occupational exposures were assessed using job-exposure matrices for five chlorinated solvents. Solvents were studied separately and in combinations. ORs were computed using unconditional logistic regression models adjusted for classic risk factors, including a history of cigarette smoking and exposure to asbestos. Adjustment for socioeconomic status (SES) was also made. Results : After adjustment for exposure to asbestos, we observed a positive, statistically significant association with lung cancer for men and women exposed to a combination of perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene and dichloromethane (DCM). Further adjustment for SES slightly decreased this association. In contrast, no statistically significant associations were found for other solvent combinations. Conclusions : These results suggest that exposure to PCE may constitute a risk factor for lung cancer, especially among women, who seem to have a higher prevalence of exposure than men.