Lack of association between occupational exposure to diesel exhaust and risk of pancreatic cancer: A systematic evaluation of available data

Purpose: To review epidemiologic studies on risk of pancreatic cancer and occupational exposure to diesel exhaust. Methods: A literature search was conducted, and data were abstracted in a systematic fashion. Comparable results were combined using a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Twenty-six studies were included in the review, including five studies based on routine statistics, 11 case-control studies [meta-relative risk (RR) of three estimates for diesel exhaust exposure 0.9; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.5, 1.6] and ten cohort studies (meta-RR of their results: 1.03; 95 % CI 0.93, 1.13). Few studies reported results according to duration of exposure or other quantitative measures; no consistent pattern emerged. Conclusions: The overall evidence from studies on occupational exposure to diesel exhaust and risk of pancreatic cancer leads to the conclusion of the absence of such association.