Cancer incidence and mortality among office workers: An epidemiologic investigation

We studied nearly 2000 office workers to determine whether observed cancer incidence and mortality exceeded expected values, and whether cancer occurrence and length of employment in a particular building were associated. We used historical cohort and case control methods and record linkage techniques. Five sets of reference values were used for comparison: Canadian and Nova Scotian experience derived from the Mortality data base of Statistics Canada, mortality experience from a 10% sample of the Canadian labour force, incidence from the Nova Scotia cancer registry, and expenditures across broad diagnostic categories from the Provincial Medical Services Insurance Commission. No overall excess incidence or mortality was observed, and there was no suggestion of association between cancer and length of employment. The confirmed increase in incidence and mortality was attributed mainly to an aging population.