Introduction. Several agricultural pesticides have shown a carcinogenic potential in experimental animals. Methods. In 1998-2003, 2337 incident lymphoma cases and 2434 controls participated in the EPILYMPH case-control study in six European countries. A detailed occupational history was collected in cases and controls. Specific questions for farm workers included type of crop, farm size, pests being treated, type and schedule of pesticide use. We conducted a preliminary analysis of risk of lymphoma and its major subtypes associated with occupational exposure to groups of pesticides. The Odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated with unconditional logistic regression for all lymphomas, and its major subtypes, adjusting by age, gender, and education. Results. Lymphoma risk did not increase among exposed to inorganic (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.9 -1.7) or organic pesticides (OR = 1.1, 95% CI 0.9 -1.4). Risk of CLL was significantly increased among exposed to pesticides (OR = 1.5 95% CI 1.0 - 2.2), and particularly to organophosphates (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.1 - 4.4). No other significant association were observed. Conclusion. Our results confirm previous reports of an increase in risk of specific lymphoma subtypes associated with exposure to specific agrochemicals.
Lymphoma risk and occupational exposure to pesticides: results of the epilymph study
SATTA, GIANNINA;ENNAS, MARIA GRAZIA;COCCO, PIER LUIGI
2011-01-01
Abstract
Introduction. Several agricultural pesticides have shown a carcinogenic potential in experimental animals. Methods. In 1998-2003, 2337 incident lymphoma cases and 2434 controls participated in the EPILYMPH case-control study in six European countries. A detailed occupational history was collected in cases and controls. Specific questions for farm workers included type of crop, farm size, pests being treated, type and schedule of pesticide use. We conducted a preliminary analysis of risk of lymphoma and its major subtypes associated with occupational exposure to groups of pesticides. The Odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated with unconditional logistic regression for all lymphomas, and its major subtypes, adjusting by age, gender, and education. Results. Lymphoma risk did not increase among exposed to inorganic (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.9 -1.7) or organic pesticides (OR = 1.1, 95% CI 0.9 -1.4). Risk of CLL was significantly increased among exposed to pesticides (OR = 1.5 95% CI 1.0 - 2.2), and particularly to organophosphates (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.1 - 4.4). No other significant association were observed. Conclusion. Our results confirm previous reports of an increase in risk of specific lymphoma subtypes associated with exposure to specific agrochemicals.
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