Publication details
Occupational exposure to solvents and risk of lymphoma subtypes: results from the Epilymph case-control study
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2010 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Occupational and environmental medicine |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.2009.046839 |
| Field | Oncology and hematology |
| Keywords | NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA; BENZENE EXPOSURE; MULTINATIONAL COHORT; PETROLEUM WORKERS; ORGANIC-SOLVENTS; CANCER MORTALITY; TRICHLOROETHYLENE; HYDROCARBONS; METAANALYSIS; LEUKEMIA |
| Description | To investigate the role of occupational exposure to organic solvents in the aetiology of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) and its major subtypes, as well as Hodgkin's lymphoma and T-cell lymphoma. Methods 2348 lymphoma cases and 2462 controls participated in a case-control study in six European countries. A subset of cases were reviewed by a panel of pathologists to ensure diagnostic consistency. Exposure to solvents was assessed by industrial hygienists and occupational experts based on a detailed occupational questionnaire. Results Risk of follicular lymphoma significantly increased with three independent metrics of exposure to benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) (combined p = 4 x 10(-7)) and to styrene (p = 1 x 10(-5)), and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) risk increased with exposure to solvents overall (p = 4 x 10(-6)), BTX (p = 5 x 10(-5)), gasoline (p = 8 x 10(-5)) and other solvents (p = 2 x 10(-6)). Risk of B-NHL for ever exposure to solvents was not elevated (OR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.3), and that for CLL and follicular lymphoma was 1.3 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.6) and 1.3 (95% CI 1.0 to 1.7), respectively. Exposure to benzene accounted, at least partially, for the association observed with CLL risk. Hodgkin's lymphoma and T-cell lymphoma did not show an association with solvent exposure. Conclusion This analysis of a large European dataset confirms a role of occupational exposure to solvents in the aetiology of B-NHL, and particularly, CLL. It is suggested that benzene is most likely to be implicated, but we cannot exclude the possibility of a role for other solvents in relation to other lymphoma subtypes, such as follicular lymphoma. No association with risk of T-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma was shown. |