Certain job roles, including hairdressers, beauticians, and accountants, have been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer, according to a case-control study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
The research findings indicate that workers in sales, retail, clothing, and construction industries may also be vulnerable. The study highlights the potential role of specific occupational exposures, including talcum powder, ammonia, propellant gases, petrol, and bleaches.
The study authors note that few modifiable risk factors for ovarian cancer have been identified, and environmental factors, including those in the workplace, may contribute to the risk.
However, previous studies have often overlooked influential factors or included limited participant numbers, limiting the findings.
To address these issues, the researchers conducted an exploratory analysis using lifetime employment history from the Prevention of Ovarian Cancer in Quebec (PROVAQ) study.
The study included 491 women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer and 897 women without ovarian cancer, matched for age and electoral roll district.
The authors of the study, explains, “We aimed to evaluate two dimensions of the workplace environment: employment in a particular role or industry and specific occupational exposures.”
The findings revealed that more women with ovarian cancer had lower educational attainment, shorter oral contraceptive use, and fewer children compared to the women in the comparison group, which are potential risk factors for the disease.
For each job held for at least six months, participants reported the job title, start and end dates, working hours (including shift work), and main tasks performed. The study categorized cumulative length of employment as never, less than 10 years, and 10 or more years.
Using the Canadian job-exposure matrix (CANJEM), the researchers calculated participants’ exposure to specific agents in the workplace. They then assessed the relationship between exposure to the 29 most common agents and the risk of ovarian cancer.