Occupational exposures and Hodgkin Lymphoma: Canadian case-control study.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to study the association between Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) and occupational exposures related to long-held occupation among males in Canada.

METHODS

A population-based case-control study of HL was conducted among males stratified by province of residence and age group. Conditional logistic regression was used to fit statistical models.

RESULTS

Several factors independently increased the risk of HL. Ever exposure to ionizing radiation from uranium showed a significant association with HL. Men who had smoked cigarettes for 25 years or more were the most likely to develop HL. Exposure to ultraviolet light and diagnosis with measles were negatively associated with HL, whereas diagnosis with shingles increased the risk of HL.

CONCLUSIONS

The higher risk of developing HL may be associated with exposure to uranium ionizing radiation and years of cigarette smoking.