Occupational Etiology of Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Literature Review

Rayan Nikkilä, Suvi Tolonen, Tuula Salo, Timo Carpén, Eero Pukkala and Antti Mäkitie ()
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Rayan Nikkilä: Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, HUS Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, FI-00029 Helsinki, Finland
Suvi Tolonen: Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, HUS Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, FI-00029 Helsinki, Finland
Tuula Salo: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Timo Carpén: Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, HUS Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, FI-00029 Helsinki, Finland
Eero Pukkala: Finnish Cancer Registry, Institute for Statistical and Epidemiological Cancer and Research, FI-00139 Helsinki, Finland
Antti Mäkitie: Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, HUS Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, FI-00029 Helsinki, Finland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: While abundant evidence exists linking alcohol, tobacco, and HPV infection to a carcinogenic impact on the oropharynx, the contribution of inhalational workplace hazards remains ill-defined. We aim to determine whether the literature reveals occupational environments at a higher-than-average risk of developing oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) and summarize the available data. To identify studies assessing the relationship between occupational exposure and risk of OPC, a search of the literature through the PubMed-NCBI database was carried out and, ultimately, 15 original articles meeting eligibility criteria were selected. Only original articles in English focusing on the association between occupational exposure and risk or death of specifically OPC were included. The available data are supportive of a potentially increased risk of OPC in waiters, cooks and stewards, artistic workers, poultry and meat workers, mechanics, and World Trade Center responders exposed to dust. However, the available literature on occupation-related OPC is limited. To identify occupational categories at risk, large cohorts with long follow-ups are needed. Identification of causal associations with occupation-related factors would require dose–response analyses adequately adjusted for confounders.

Keywords: head and neck cancer; exposure; occupation; OPC; oropharynx; occupational (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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