Pesticide use and risk of Hodgkin lymphoma: results from the North American Pooled Project (NAPP)

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between pesticide exposures and risk of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) using data from the North American Pooled Project (NAPP). Methods Three population-based studies conducted in Kansas, Nebraska, and six Canadian provinces (HL = 507, Controls = 3886) were pooled to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for single (never/ever) and multiple (0, 1, 2-4, ≥ 5) pesticides used, duration (years) and, for select pesticides, frequency (days/year) using adjusted logistic regression models. An age-stratified analysis (≤ 40/ > 40 years) was conducted when numbers were sufficient. Results In an analysis of 26 individual pesticides, ever use of terbufos was significantly associated with HL (OR: 2.53, 95% CI 1.04-6.17). In age-stratified analyses, associations were stronger among those ≤ 40 years of age. No significant associations were noted among those > 40 years old; however, HL cases ≤ 40 were three times more likely to report ever using dimethoate (OR: 3.76 95% CI 1.02-33.84) and almost twice as likely to have ever used malathion (OR: 1.86 95% CI 1.00-3.47). Those ≤ 40 years of age reporting use of 5 + organophosphate insecticides had triple the odds of HL (OR: 3.00 95% CI 1.28-7.03). Longer duration of use of 2,4-D, ≥ 6 vs. 0 years, was associated with elevated odds of HL (OR: 2.59 95% CI 1.34-4.97). Conclusion In the NAPP, insecticide use may increase the risk of HL, but results are based on small numbers.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy for Multiple Myeloma

“…Also, recall bias does not appear to be a significant problem in the case-control studies 95 . Furthermore, recall bias cannot be the reason for the elevated NHL risks seen in these studies since no such increases were seen for any of the other cancers studied using the case-control method 4,21,34,35 . Thus, taken together, the epidemiological studies provide ample evidence for a relationship between glyphosate exposure and an increased risk of NHL, and this evidence cannot be simply dismissed due to possible unknown methodological issues or the negative results of questionable cohort studies.…”

“…These studies have been negative for most of the cancers studied including soft tissue sarcoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and cancers of the brain, stomach, esophagus, and prostate. Recent studies of Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma have also been negative 34,35 . However, most of the studies of NHL have shown an association with glyphosate exposure.…”

“…The only cancer linked to glyphosate exposure to date is NHL, with negative findings for other hematopoietic malignancies including Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, as well as negative findings for multiple other cancer types 4,21,34,35 . Thus, glyphosate exposure causes a specific disease, namely NHL.…”

Interplay between Epstein-Barr virus infection and environmental xenobiotic exposure in cancer

“…One study reported that, pesticide use was associated with increased risk of developing childhood hematological diseases, including HL and NHL [ 188 ]. Additionally, Latifobic L et al (2020) reported that association between pesticide exposure and HL was higher in subjects less than 40 years [ 189 ]. Interestingly, maternal exposure to insecticides in France (OR 1.6, 1.3-2.1, 95%IC) was related to an increased risk of NHL and HL during childhood [ 190 ].…”

Correlation between the prevalence of T-cell lymphomas and alcohol consumption

“…Over the past century the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) has steadily risen, mainly the B-cell lymphomas, as they represent the majority of NHL [1][2][3]. T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas are generally underrepresented due to their low incidence overall.…”