Research Plus

Nightwork cancer risk in male workers

Nightwork is known to increase the risk of breast cancer in female workers, particularly nurses, but does it increase the risk of cancer in men? This population-based case–control study from Canada found significant associations for several cancer sites, but the evidence remains controversial. Job histories and working hours were identified for 3,137 cancer patients and 512 controls. There was evidence for significant associations between nightwork and cancers of the lung, prostate, colon, bladder, rectum and pancreas, as well as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There were no significant duration–response findings so more research is needed to establish the causes of the observed relationships.

 

American Journal of Epidemiology 2012; 176(9): 751–759. http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/176/9/751.abstract

Tags cancer evidence based practice gender shiftwork

Occupational Health at Work December/January 2012/2013 (vol. 09/4) pp41