Biomaterial Database

Asbestos exposure and laryngeal cancer: an analysis of the epidemiologic evidence. 1988

C K Chan, and J B Gee

Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.

We conducted a critical analysis of the available epidemiologic investigations on the causal relationship between asbestos exposure and laryngeal cancer. A review of nine case-control studies indicates that the estimated risk (odds ratio) attributable to asbestos exposure alone is negligible when smoking and ethanol intake are appropriately controlled for. Six of the 12 cohort studies demonstrated no significant increase in the standardized mortality ratio due to asbestos exposure. The remaining six longitudinal studies showed an increased standardized mortality ratio from 1.91 to 5.41 but no adjustment was made for the confounding effects of smoking and ethanol consumption. In conclusion, the available epidemiologic evidence does not support a causal association between asbestos exposure and laryngeal cancer.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007822	Laryngeal Neoplasms	Cancers or tumors of the LARYNX or any of its parts: the GLOTTIS; EPIGLOTTIS; LARYNGEAL CARTILAGES; LARYNGEAL MUSCLES; and VOCAL CORDS.	Cancer of Larynx,Laryngeal Cancer,Larynx Neoplasms,Cancer of the Larynx,Larynx Cancer,Neoplasms, Laryngeal,Cancer, Laryngeal,Cancer, Larynx,Cancers, Laryngeal,Cancers, Larynx,Laryngeal Cancers,Laryngeal Neoplasm,Larynx Cancers,Larynx Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Laryngeal,Neoplasm, Larynx,Neoplasms, Larynx
D009784	Occupational Diseases	Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment.	Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D004812	Epidemiologic Methods	Research techniques that focus on study designs and data gathering methods in human and animal populations.	Epidemiologic Method,Epidemiological Methods,Methods, Epidemiologic,Epidemiological Method,Method, Epidemiologic,Method, Epidemiological,Methods, Epidemiological
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000428	Alcohol Drinking	Behaviors associated with the ingesting of ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, including social drinking.	Alcohol Consumption,Alcohol Intake,Drinking, Alcohol,Alcohol Drinking Habits,Alcohol Drinking Habit,Alcohol Intakes,Consumption, Alcohol,Drinking Habit, Alcohol,Habit, Alcohol Drinking,Habits, Alcohol Drinking,Intake, Alcohol
D001194	Asbestos	Asbestos. Fibrous incombustible mineral composed of magnesium and calcium silicates with or without other elements. It is relatively inert chemically and used in thermal insulation and fireproofing. Inhalation of dust causes asbestosis and later lung and gastrointestinal neoplasms.
D012907	Smoking	Willful or deliberate act of inhaling and exhaling SMOKE from burning substances or agents held by hand.	Smoking Behaviors,Smoking Habit,Behavior, Smoking,Behaviors, Smoking,Habit, Smoking,Habits, Smoking,Smoking Behavior,Smoking Habits