with blood lead measurements Mortality patterns in a cohort of 70 , 000 workers 278

Introduction Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer among Canadian men. Age, a family history of PCa and ancestry are the only recognised risk factors, but a role for environmental influences is suspected. Objective To explore the relationship between occupational and industry titles, and PCa risk. Methods PROtEuS (Prostate cancer & Environment Study) is a case-control study of PCa in Montréal, Canada including some 2000 cases and 2000 population controls aged 40–75 years. Detailed occupational histories were elicited through in-person interviews. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between PCa and employment in 98 occupations and 74 industries. Models were adjusted for age, ancestry, family history of PCa, PCa screening, income and physical activity. Results Elevated PCa risks were found for social sciences workers (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1–3.4) and metal product fabricators (OR 3.4; 95%CI 1.3–9.3) employed ≥ 10 years, and for nonconstruction painters (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.3–9.0) and plumbers and steamfitters (OR 2.4; 95%CI 1.1–5.4) employed < 10 years. Reduced risks were observed for farmers (OR 0.6; 95%CI 0.4– 0.9) and food services workers (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.9) employed < 10 years, and for physical scientists employed ≥ 10 years (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.5–0.9). Workers in public service, wood products, and jewellery industries had excess PCa risks. Those in agriculture, miscellaneous food, accommodation and food, air transport, and retail trade industries had reduced risks. Analyses including all subjects, or stratified according to white or blue collar status generated consistent findings. Conclusions Our findings suggest excess PCa risks in some metal-related occupations, as well as in white-collar occupations such as in public service and social sciences. Farmers and food services workers had reduced risks. Specific occupational exposures possibly underlying these associations will be explored.