Parental Occupation and Other Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Leukemias and Non-Hodgkin'S Lymphomas in Childhood: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

We report the results of a hospital-based, case-control study on acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (AnLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in childhood. The study was conducted from 1981 to 1984 in Turin (Italy). One hundred and forty-two children with ALL, 22 with AnLL and 19 with NHL were included, as well as 307 controls. Information on parental smoking habits, parental occupation, ionizing radiation and childhood diseases were collected using a standard questionnaire during a personal interview of the relative attending the child in the hospital. The odds ratios for antenatal diagnostic radiation were 1.1 (NS) for ALL and 2.4 (NS) for AnLL. No association was found with diseases in childhood. Paternal and maternal smoking habits were similar for ALL cases and controls. Both maternal and paternal smoking were associated with NHL: for paternal smoking, odds ratios were around 5, but without a correlation with number of cigarettes. Positive associations observed with maternal employment were: ALL with teacher and cleaner; AnLL and textile worker; NHL and baker. Corresponding association with paternal jobs were: ALL with clerks, farmers and employment in office equipment production; AnLL and workers in building, tire or textile industries; NHL and lorry drivers, workers in the building or in the wood and furniture industry.

Infectious diseases in the first year of life, perinatal characteristics and childhood acute leukaemia

“…However, several authors have already pointed out the possibility of a negative association with asthma and other allergic diseases (Magnani et al, 1990;Petridou et al, 1997;Schuz et al, 1999b;Wen et al, 2000), and the association deserves further investigation.…”

The non-Hodgkin lymphomas: A review of the epidemiologic literature

“…392 Deliveryrelated procedures, including having a Cesarean section (OR 5 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.6) or use of paracervical anesthesia (OR 5 1.8, 95% CI: 1.0-3.5), were associated positively with NHL risk in offspring. Magnani et al 680 examined the associations between parental characteristics and risk of childhood NHL. Maternal occupations that were associated with a significantly elevated relative risk of having a child with NHL included work as a high school teacher or baker/confectioner, and paternal occupations associated with NHL in offspring included work as a construction worker or lorry driver.…”

Cigarette smoking and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes among women

“…Cigarette smoking has been proposed as one factor that could potentially increase the risk of NHL, although epidemiologic investigations of smoking and NHL have yielded conflicting results (Magnani et al, 1990;Brown et al, 1992;Linet et al, 1992;Tavani et al, 1994;Nelson et al, 1997;Zahm et al, 1997;Adami et al, 1998;De Stefani et al, 1998;Freedman et al, 1998;Herrinton and Friedman, 1998;Holly et al, 1999;Miligi et al, 1999;Grant, 2000;Parker et al, 2000;Fabbro-Peray et al, 2001;Peach and Barnett, 2001;Stagnaro et al, 2001;Besson et al, 2003). Three studies have reported a statistically significant increased risk of NHL among smokers (Magnani et al, 1990;Linet et al, 1992;Freedman et al, 1998), while eight studies have reported no association or a weak association between cigarette smoking and NHL (Tavani et al, 1994;Nelson et al, 1997;Adami et al, 1998;De Stefani et al, 1998;Holly et al, 1999;Miligi et al, 1999;Grant, 2000;Fabbro-Peray et al, 2001).…”

“…Three studies have reported a statistically significant increased risk of NHL among smokers (Magnani et al, 1990;Linet et al, 1992;Freedman et al, 1998), while eight studies have reported no association or a weak association between cigarette smoking and NHL (Tavani et al, 1994;Nelson et al, 1997;Adami et al, 1998;De Stefani et al, 1998;Holly et al, 1999;Miligi et al, 1999;Grant, 2000;Fabbro-Peray et al, 2001).…”