The association between occupational exposure to chemical agents and primary liver cancer (PLC) was examined among the employees of Denmark. Totals of 973 PLC cases and 15,348 controls were obtained from a national Supplementary Pension Fund. Information from the Supplementary Pension Fund was linked to that of the Danish Cancer registry. The study population consisted of 65% men and 35% women. The risk of PLC was decreased significantly among the men of the agricultural industry. Odds ratios (ORs) of 3.01 and 5.41 were calculated for men employed in the sanitary services and auto repair shops, respectively, for at least 10 years prior to diagnosis. For the food and drink industry, an OR of 1.76 was determined for the risk of PLC. More specifically, workers in oil mills and breweries had about a fourfold excess of PLC, while workers in alcohol manufacturing had a sevenfold excess of PLC. For the paper and graphics industry, an OR of 1.82 was determined for the risk of PLC. The risk of PLC was sixfold higher among the employees in the paper and cardboard and bookbinding industries. The risk of PLC was also elevated among glass workers and metal manufacturers. In the wholesale and retail trades, the risk of PLC was twofold to threefold higher among those workers who sold chemicals, wood, lumber, building materials, and meats. A threefold risk of PLC was observed among the employees of restaurants, cafeterias, hotels and motels. Elevated ORs were also calculated for the workers of the transportation, warehouse, and storage industries. Among women, ORs of 11.9 and 12.5 were calculated for workers in the printing and offset printing industries, respectively. The authors conclude that the risk of PLC is elevated in numerous occupations, especially those of the printing and alcohol related industries.

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