What are the risk factors for nasal (nasopharyngeal) cancer?

From the Guidelines

Nasal cancer risk factors include occupational exposures, tobacco smoking, radiation exposure, chronic sinusitis, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, genetic syndromes, and formaldehyde exposure, with people of Asian ancestry having higher rates of nasopharyngeal cancer due to genetic and environmental factors including Epstein-Barr virus infection. The most significant risk factors for nasal cancer can be identified through various studies, including those that highlight the importance of occupational exposures to wood dust, leather dust, textile dust, and chemicals used in furniture manufacturing 1. Some key points to consider when evaluating risk factors for nasal cancer include:

• Occupational exposures to certain substances, such as formaldehyde, which has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 1
• Tobacco smoking, which is a major risk factor for many types of cancer, including nasal cancer 1
• Radiation exposure, particularly from previous radiation therapy to the head and neck region, which can contribute to cancer development 1
• Chronic sinusitis and prolonged inflammation of the nasal passages, which may increase risk over time 1
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which has been linked to some cases of nasal and paranasal sinus cancers 1
• Certain genetic syndromes, such as hereditary retinoblastoma, which can predispose individuals to nasal cancer 1
• Formaldehyde exposure in industrial settings, which has been associated with increased risk 1
• People of Asian ancestry, particularly Chinese, who have higher rates of nasopharyngeal cancer due to genetic and environmental factors, including Epstein-Barr virus infection 1. It is essential to consider these risk factors when evaluating an individual's likelihood of developing nasal cancer, and to take steps to mitigate these risks wherever possible.

From the Research

Risk Factors for Nasal (Nasopharyngeal) Cancer

The following are risk factors for nasal (nasopharyngeal) cancer:

• Occupational exposures:
  • Wood dust in the furniture industry 2, 3, 4
  • Leather in shoe factories 2
  • Metal industry 2
  • Textile industry 2
  • Mining and construction industry 2
  • Agricultural industry 2, 5
• Chemical agents:
  • Chromates 2
  • Nickel compounds 2
  • Isopropylic alcohol 2
  • Mustard gas 2
  • Chlorophenols 6
  • Formaldehyde 6, 4
• Life-style related factors:
  • Alcohol consumption 5
  • Tobacco use 5
  • Cooking wood fumes 5
  • Exposure to agricultural chemicals (e.g. herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers) 5
• Other factors:
  • Machining-related exposures 6
  • Exposure to asbestos and/or silica dust 4

Occupation-Specific Risks

Certain occupations have been associated with an increased risk of nasal (nasopharyngeal) cancer, including:

• Woodworkers: increased risk of nasal cancer 2, 3, 4
• Leather workers: increased risk of nasal cancer 2
• Metalworkers: increased risk of nasal cancer 2
• Textile workers: increased risk of nasal cancer 2
• Construction workers: increased risk of nasal cancer 2
• Farmers: increased risk of nasal cancer 2, 5
• Machinists: increased risk of nasopharyngeal cancer 6