Smoking, alcohol, occupation, and hair dye use in cancer of the lower urinary tract

Abstract

This case-control study was based on 137 Caucasian and 124 Japanese cases of urinary tract cancer identified in Hawaii between 1977 and 1986. Each case was matched on sex, age, and race to two population-based controls. Heavy cigarette smokers (41 or more pack-years for men; 21 or more pack-years for women) had a significantly elevated risk compared with nonsmokers (odds ratio (OR) = 6.2, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 3.4-11.1 for the men; OR = 2.8, 95% Cl 1.2-6.3 for the women). When the men and women were combined, employment in high-risk industries (includes machinery, automotive, and textiles, among others) was significantly associated with cancer risk (OR = 1.6, 95% Cl 1.1-2.3). Alcohol intake and hair dye use showed weaker positive associations with risk that were not statistically significant. © 1989 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.