Soft-tissue sarcoma and pesticides exposure in men: results of a Canadian case-control study.

OBJECTIVES The objective was to investigate the putative associations of specific pesticides with soft-tissue sarcoma (STS). METHODS A Canadian population-based case-control study conducted in six provinces was used in this analysis. The study design consisted of two stages: a self-administered postal questionnaire and a telephone interview for those reporting pesticides exposure of 10 hours per year or more; and a 15% random sample of the remainder. Conditional logistic regression was used to fit the statistical models. RESULTS A positive history of cancer among first-degree relatives and exposure to aldrin and diazinon were statistically significant independent predictors of an increased risk for STS, whereas diagnosis of whopping cough lowered the risk of STS. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of STS was associated with specific insecticides after adjustment for other independent predictors.