Mineral fiber exposure and the development of ovarian cancer

A hospital-based case-control study of the association between fiber exposure and the development of epithelial ovarian cancer was performed at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Genital and respiratory fiber exposures were ascertained from incident cases (N = 77) and age-race matched controls (N = 46) using a structured questionnaire. Cases were ascertained between 1981 and 1985. An increased risk was observed for exposure to talc on sanitary napkins (OR = 4.79, 95% CI, = 1.29-17.79), genital fiber exposure from different sources for a long (cumulative exposure ≥37.4 years) length of time (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 0.95-5.80), and occupational fiber exposure in relatives (OR = 2.81, 95% CI = 0.90-8.75). A negative association was observed for antecedent tubal ligation (OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.027-0.88). Findings from this study should be confirmed in larger investigations.