Occupational exposures and prostate and kidney cancer mortality in electric utility workers

The incidence and mortality rates of prostate and kidney cancers are increasing in the U.S. and in other countries. This study sought to determine if occupational exposures to (a) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were individually and jointly associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer mortality, and (b) PCBs were associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer mortality, among electric utility workers.;In this cohort-based case-control study, individuals had been employed for at least six consecutive months in any of five selected U.S. electric utility companies, between 1950 and 1988. Cases were comprised of workers who had died from prostate cancer (n = 387), and kidney cancer (n = 94). Five controls were matched to the cases on age (+ or –6 months) and time of death. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were obtained by analyses using conditional logistic regression. Four lag periods of 0-yr, 5-yr, 10-yr, and 15-yr were included in the analyses.;Among workers with low exposure to PCBs, those who were exposed to the highest ten percent of EMF exposure were twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to those exposed to lower levels, after adjusting for PCBs, race, and active work status within the last two years: OR and 95% CI, 2.02 (1.34–3.04). The estimate of the association between high PCB exposure and prostate cancer mortality, among those with low EMF exposure, was 1.25 (0.81–1.92). Combined exposures of EMFs; and PCBs did not increase the risk for prostate cancer mortality. Exposure to PCBs in the highest ten percent was also associated with kidney cancer mortality (15-yr lag), after adjusting for socioeconomic status, 1.87 (0.92–3.80). Non-white race was strongly associated with prostate cancer mortality, 3.67 (2.66–5.06), but not with kidney cancer mortality. Lower-white collar SES was positively associated with kidney cancer mortality, when compared with upper-white collar SES, 2.21 (1.02–4.82).;Additional studies investigating the association between EMF and prostate cancer mortality are recommended.