A case-referent study of cancer of the nasal cavity and sinuses in Hong Kong

Abstract

A case-referent study of cancer of the nasal cavity and sinuses (NCS) was conducted in Hong Kong where textile and garment manufacturing are major industries. The study population included 225 nasal cavity and sinus cancer cases (NCS), 224 nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) referents, and 226 all other malignancies (AOM) referents, diagnosed at the Institute of Radiology and Oncology from 1974 through 1981. A strikingly close similarity in occupational distribution between NPC referents and NCS cases was found. Compared to AOM referents, statistically significantly elevated odds ratios of association with nasal cavity and sinuses cancer were found among textile workers (OR, 2.93), fishermen (OR, 3.38), farmers (OR, 1.94) and construction workers (OR, 1.91) particularly for textile workers and fishermen with more than 15 years of employment (textile workers, OR 7.39), (fishermen, OR 3.72). Among textile workers, somewhat more elevated risks were found among weavers (OR, 4.72) after controlling for employment years. Slightly but not statistically significant elevated relative risks of NCS were also associated with those who smoked (OR 1.40) and those who were locally born in Hong Kong (OR 1.53). The known risk of nasopharyngeal cancer among fishermen and those originating from the southern Chinese province of Guangdong was also evident. These findings confirm an association of nasal cavity and sinuses cancer with textile work which has been previously suggested by other studies and provide new leads for further research on the environmental aetiology of cancer of the nasal cavity, sinuses and nasopharynx.