Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Incidence of cancer among male waiters and cooks: two Norwegian cohorts

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Previous occupational survey studies have identified ‘waiter’ and ‘cook’ as possible high risk occupations for cancer. However, few cohort studies have been performed among persons in the restaurant business, and we therefore have analyzed cancer incidence in two cohorts of Norwegian waiters and cooks. The cohorts consisted of skilled male workers, 1,463 waiters and 2,582 cooks, who received their craft certificate between 1958 and 1983. The cohorts were followed from 1959 through 1991. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for all causes of cancer was 1.4 (95 percent confidence interval [CI]=1.2–1.7] for waiters, and 1.1 (CI=0.9–1.4) for cooks. Cancers of the tongue, mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, and liver were grouped together as alcohol-associated cancers. SIR for these cancers combined was 5.1 (CI=3.4–-7.4) for waiters and 4.2 (CI=2.2–7.2) for cooks. For lung cancer, SIR was 2.0 (CI=1.3–2.9) for waiters and 0.7 (CI=0.2–1.7) for cooks. For alcohol-associated cancers, the analysis carried out according to number of years since first employment showed a larger number of cases than expected for both occupations in all time-periods. The excess of lung cancer cases among waiters appeared after 30 years or more of employment. The study shows that waiters and cooks are at high risk of cancers associated with alcohol consumption, and that waiters, in addition, show high rates for lung cancer. The hypothesis of an occupational lung-cancer risk in cooks was not supported by this study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, Occupational Mortality 1970–72. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dubrow R, Wegman DH. Cancer and occupation in Massachusetts: A death certificate study. Am J Ind Med 1984; 6: 207–30.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Howe GR, Lindsay JP. A follow-up study of a ten-percent sample of the Canadian labor force. I. Cancer mortality in males 1965–73. JNCI 1983; 70: 37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Pearce NE, Howard JK. Occupation, social class and male cancer mortality in New Zealand 1974–78. Int J Epidemiol 1986; 15: 456–62.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Andersen A, Bjelke E, Langmark F, Cancer in waiters. Br J Cancer 1989; 69: 112–5.

    Google Scholar 

  6. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Alcohol Drinking. Lyon, France: IARC, 1988; IARC Monogy Eval Carcinog Risks Humans, Vol 44: 153–260.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Tuyns AJ. Alcohol and cancer. Proc Nutr Soc 1990; 49: 145–51.

    Google Scholar 

  8. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Tobacco Smoking, Lyon, France: IARC, 1986; IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Chem Humans, Vol.38: 270–6.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Young M, Russel WT, An Investigation into the Statistics of Cancer in Different Trades and Professions, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1926.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Clemmesen J. Cancer and Occupation in Denmark 1935–1939. Copenhagen: Nyt Nordisk Forlag, 1941.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Versluys JJ. Cancer and occupation in the Netherlands. Br J Cancer 1949; 3: 161–85.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Davies JB. Drinking and alcohol-related problems in five industries. In: Hore BD, Plant MA, eds. Alcohol Problems in Employment. London: Croom Helm, 1981: 38–60.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Whitehead PC, Simpkins J. Occupational factors in alcoholism. In: Kissin B, Begleiter H, eds. The Pathogenesis of Alcoholism, Psychosocial Factors, New York: Plenum Press, 1983: 405–96.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mandell W, Eaton WW, Anthony JC, Garrison R, Alcoholism and occupations: A review and analysis of 104 occupations. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1992; 16: 734–46.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hitz D. Drunken sailors and others: Drinking problems in specific occupations. Quart J Stud Alc 1973; 34: 496–505.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Stellman SD, Boffetta P, Garfinkel L. Smoking habits in 800,000 American men and women in relation to their occupations. Am J Ind Med 1988; 13: 43–58.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Saracci R, Riboli E. Passive smoking and lung cancer: Current evidence and ongoing studies at the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Mutat Res 1989; 22: 117–27.

    Google Scholar 

  18. World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases, Seventh Revision, Geneva: WHO, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Blot WJ, McLaughlin JK, Winn DF, Austin DF, Greenberg RS, Preston-Martin S, et al. Smoking and drinking in relation to oral and pharyngeal cancer. Cancer Res 1988; 48: 3282–7.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Tuyns AJ, Estève J, Raymond L, et al. Cancer of the larynx/hypopharynx, tobacco and alcohol. Int J Cancer 1988; 41: 483–91.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Tuyns AJ. Oesophagael cancer in non-smoking drinkers and non-drinking smokers. Int J Cancer 1983; 32: 443–4.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Rothman KJ, Keller AZ. The effect of joint exposure to alcohol and tobacco on risk of cancer of the mouth and pharynx. J Chron Dis 1972; 25: 711–6.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Tuyns AJ, Péquignot G, Jensen OM. Oesophageal cancer in Ille-et-Vilaine in relation to alcohol and tobacco consumption: multiplicative risks (in French), Bull Cancer 1977; 64: 45–60.

    Google Scholar 

  24. The Cancer Registry of Norway, The Incidence of Cancer in Norway 1982–1986. Oslo: 1989.

  25. Olsen JH, Jensen OM. Occupation and risk of cancer in Denmark: an analysis of 93,810 cancer cases 1970–1979. Scand J Work Environ 1987; 13 (suppl): 13–36.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Dimich-Ward H, Gallagher RP, Spinelli JJ, Threlfall WJ, Band PR. Occupational mortality among bartenders and waiters. Can J Publ Health 1988; 79: 194–7.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Foppa I, Minder CE. Oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer as a cause of death among Swiss cooks. Scand J Work Environ Health 1992; 18: 287–92.

    Google Scholar 

  28. National Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research. Survey Study November 1991. Oslo, Norway: NIADR, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Rappaport SM, McCartney MC, Wei ET. Volatilization of mutagens from beef during cooking. Cancer Lett 1979; 8: 139–45.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Teschke K, Hertzman C, VanNetten C, et al. Potential exposure to airborne mutagens and carcinogens. Environ Res 1989; 50: 296–308.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Steenland K, Beaumont J, Halperin W. Methods of control for smoking in occupational cohort mortality studies. Scand J Work Environ 1984; 10: 143–9.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Adami HO, Hsing AW, McLaughlin JK, et al. Alcoholism and liver cirrhosis in the etiology of primary liver cancer. Int J Cancer 1992; 51: 998–902.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Coggon D, Pannett B, Osmond C, Acheson ED, A survey of cancer and occupation in young and middle aged men. I. Cancers of the respiratory tract. Br J Ind Med 1986; 43: 332–8.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Dunn JE, Linden G, Breslow L. Lung cancer mortality experience in men in certain occupations in California. Am J Publ Health 1960; 50: 1475–87.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hirayama T. Non-smoking wives of heavy smokers have a higher risk of lung cancer: A study from Japan. BMJ 1981; 282: 183–5.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Fielding JE, Phemow KJ, Health effects of involuntary smoking. N Engl J Med 1988; 319: 1452–60.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Jarvis MJ, Foulds J, Feyerabend C. Exposure to passive smoking among bar staff. Br J Addict 1992; 87: 111–3.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Maclure M, Katz RBA, Bryant MS, Skipper PL, Tannenbaum SR, Elevated blood levels of carcinogens in passive smokers. Am J Publ Health 1989; 79: 1381–4.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Elwood JM, Gallagher RP, Davison J, Hill GB. Sunburn, suntan and the risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma— The Western Canada melanoma study. Br J Cancer 1985; 51: 543–9.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Holman CD, Armstrong BK, Heenan PJ. Relationship of cutaneous malignant melanoma to individual sunlight-exposure habits. JNCI 1986; 76: 403–14.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Magnus K. The Nordic profile of skin cancer incidence: A comparative epidemiological study of the three main types of skin cancer. Int J Cancer 1991; 47: 12–9.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Electromagnetic fields and the risk of cancer. NRPB Report. Oxon 1992; 3 (1).

  43. Huebner WW, Schoenberg JB, Kelsey JL, et al. Oral and pharyngeal cancer and occupation: A case control study. Epidemiology, 1992; 3: 300–9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Kristina Kjaerheim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aage Andersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Dr Kjerheim and Mr Andersen are with The Cancer Registry of Norway. Address crrespondence to Dr Kjerheim, The Cancer Registry of Norway, Institute for Epidemiological Cancer Research, Montebello, 0310 Oslo, Norway. This project was supported by grants from the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kjaerheim, K., Andersen, A. Incidence of cancer among male waiters and cooks: two Norwegian cohorts. Cancer Causes Control 4, 419–426 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00050860

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00050860

Key words

Search

Navigation