Leukaemia and occupation: a New Zealand Cancer Registry-based case–control Study

• DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyn220
• Publication Date: 2008-10-25T20:24:23Z
• Authors: David McLean; Andrea 't Mannetje; Evan Dryson; Chris Walls; Fiona McKenzie; Milena Maule; Soo Cheng; Chris Cunningham; Hans Kromhout; Paolo Boffetta; Aaron Blair; Neil Pearce
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Agricultural workers; Casecontrol study; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Age Distribution; 0302 clinical medicine; SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being; Leukaemia; Humans; Leukaemia; occupation; cancer registry-based; Registries; Occupations; Sex Distribution; Plastics industry; Aged; Occupation; Leukemia; Middle Aged; Agricultural Workers' Diseases; 3. Good health; Occupational Diseases; Case-Control Studies; Chemical Industry; Textile Industry; Female; New Zealand

Background To examine the association between occupation and leukaemia. Methods We interviewed 225 cases (aged 20–75 years) notified to New Zealand Cancer Registry during 2003–04, 471 controls randomly selected from Electoral Roll collecting demographic details, information on potential confounders a comprehensive employment history. Associations leukaemia were analysed using logistic regression adjusted for gender, age, ethnicity smoking. Results Elevated odds ratios (ORs) observed in agricultural sectors including horticulture/fruit growing (OR: 2.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.51, 4.55), plant nurseries 7.51, CI: 1.85, 30.38) vegetable 3.14, 1.18, 8.40); appeared greater women (ORs: 4.71, 7.75 7.98, respectively). ORs also market farmers/crop growers 1.84, 1.12, 3.02), field crop/vegetable 3.98, 1.46, 10.85), gardeners 5.50, 1.59, 19.02), nursery growers/workers 4.23, 1.34, 13.35); 3.48, 7.62, 15.74 11.70, These elevated predominantly chronic lymphocytic (CLL). Several associations persisted after semi-Bayes adjustment. rubber/plastics products machine operators 3.76, 1.08, 13.08), plastic product manufacturing. CLL was tailors dressmakers 7.01, 1.78, 27.68), cleaners 2.04, 1.00, 4.14) builder's labourers 4.03, 1.30, 12.53). Conclusions findings suggest increased risks associated with certain agricultural, manufacturing, construction service occupations Zealand.