This case‐control study, performed in a mixed rural and urban province, of 74 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 148 unselected age and sex‐matched controls, attempted to look possible risk factors for PD. Rural living, well‐water drinking, positive family history for PD and postural tremor, were associated to an increased risk for PD, with results regarding exposure to pesticides near to statistical significance. Alcohol‐drinking habit in males were associated to a decreased risk for PD, with results regarding cigarette‐smoking habit in males near to statistical significance. We did not find association between the risk for PD and the following variables: 1) exposure to industrial toxins; 2) agricultural work; 3) cranial trauma; 4) previous common illnesses including some infections, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease and thyroid disease; 5) coffee and tea drinking habits.

Welding-related asthma is well recognised but less is known about rhinitis in relation to welding. The aim here, was to study associations between welding, rhinitis and asthma in a general population sample, and factors influencing selection into and out of a welding occupation.Adult-onset asthma and non-infectious rhinitis were investigated in the international multicentre population-based Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study, including 16 191 responders aged 26-54 years. Ever welding (n=2181), welding >25% of working time (n=747), and welding in stainless steel >6 months (n=173) were assessed by questionnaire. Subjects with rhinitis or asthma onset when aged <18 years were excluded. Incidence rates for asthma and rhinitis were calculated from year of disease onset, and start and end of welding job. Cox's proportional hazard models adjusting for age, sex, parental education and study centre, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used.Rhinitis incidence was higher among welders (hazard ratio (HR) 1.4, 95% CI 1.3-1.6), consistent in men and women, and across centres ( pheterogeneity=0.4). In men, asthma incidence was higher among welders (HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.04-1.97). Quitting welding was indicated higher after adult-onset rhinitis (HR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.3).Adult-onset rhinitis and asthma was higher among welders, consistent across population samples from Northern Europe. No pre-employment selection was found, whereas selection out of welding jobs was suggested. @ERSpublications Welding activity increases risk of development of rhinitis, highlighting concerns in this occupation

BackgroundIn Spain, prostate cancer is the third cause of mortality from cancer in men, after lung and colorectal cancers. Age, family history and race are common risk factors. Several environmental and occupational factors have been investigated, including pesticides and endocrine disruptors, but results are inconsistent. We have previously shown an association of prostate cancer risk with shift work. We evaluate here which occupations and agents are associated with a high risk for prostate cancer within the framework of the MCC-Spain.MethodsWe included 1111 incident cases of prostate cancer and 1489 population controls recruited from 7 Spanish regions from September 2008 to December 2012. Occupational history was collected for all subjects, and occupations were coded according to the Spanish National Classification of Occupations 1994 (CNO-94). The Spanish Job Exposure Matrix (MatEmESp) was applied to assess occupational exposures to different agents. Unconditional logistic regression was applied, adjusting for age, education and region, showing Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals (OR; CI).ResultsConstruction building managers (OR = 2.0; 1.1–3.8), cleaning personnel (OR = 2.1; 1.1–4.0), farmers (OR = 3.0; 1.1–8.1) were associated with an increase risk in prostate cancer. An association has been observed for exposure to inorganic dust, specifically to silica dust (OR = 1.3; 1.1–1.7), insecticides (OR = 1.4; 1.1–1.8), and ultraviolet radiations (OR = 1.3; 1.1–1.6). Analysis on intensity and duration of the exposure to certain agents as well as associations with extension of the disease will be presented.ConclusionsOccupational exposures may play a role in the development of prostate cancer.