Carpenters, cabinetmakers, and risk of testicular germ cell cancer.

Abstract

A recent cohort study showed an increased risk of testicular cancer among members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. We explored our data of a German population-based case-control study on the etiology of testicular cancer with regard to this association. The case-control study included 269 testicular cancer cases and 797 controls. We applied conditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). People who worked as cabinetmakers or carpenters had an OR of 0.84 (95% CI = 0.45-1.56). Risks were increased among cabinetmakers who worked at least 15 years ago (OR = 5.81, 95% CI = 1.20-28.09). Ever being employed as a carpenter was associated with a reduced OR of 0.59 (95% CI = 0.24-1.46). Cabinetmakers may be at an increased risk of testicular cancer.