Journal article
A Case–Control Study of Occupational Exposure to Trichloroethylene and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Environmental health perspectives, Vol.119(2), pp.232-238
02/2011
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1002106
PMID: 21288806
Abstract
Background
Previous epidemiologic findings suggest an association between exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE), a chlorinated solvent primarily used for vapor degreasing of metal parts, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Objectives
We investigated the association between occupational TCE exposure and NHL within a population-based case–control study using detailed exposure assessment methods.
Methods
Cases (n = 1,189; 76% participation rate) and controls (n = 982; 52% participation rate) provided information on their occupational histories and, for selected occupations, on possible workplace exposure to TCE using job-specific interview modules. An industrial hygienist assessed potential TCE exposure based on this information and a review of the TCE industrial hygiene literature. We computed odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) relating NHL and different metrics of estimated TCE exposure, categorized using tertiles among exposed controls, with unexposed subjects as the reference group.
Results
We observed associations with NHL for the highest tertiles of estimated average weekly exposure (23 exposed cases; OR = 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1–6.1) and cumulative exposure (24 exposed cases; OR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.0–5.0) to TCE. Tests for trend with these metrics surpassed or approached statistical significance (p-value for trend = 0.02 and 0.08, respectively); however, we did not observe dose–response relationships across the exposure levels. Overall, neither duration nor intensity of exposure was associated with NHL, although we observed an association with the lowest tertile of exposure duration (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0–4.7).
Conclusions
Our findings offer additional support for an association between high levels of exposure to TCE and increased risk of NHL. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of confounding from other chlorinated solvents used for vapor degreasing and note that our exposure assessment methods have not been validated.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A Case–Control Study of Occupational Exposure to Trichloroethylene and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Creators
- Mark P Purdue - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USABerit Bakke - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USAPatricia Stewart - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USAAnneclaire J De Roos - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USAMaryjean Schenk - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USACharles F Lynch - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USALeslie Bernstein - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USALindsay M Morton - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USAJames R Cerhan - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USARichard K Severson - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USAWendy Cozen - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USAScott Davis - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USANathaniel Rothman - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USAPatricia Hartge - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USAJoanne S Colt - Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Environmental health perspectives, Vol.119(2), pp.232-238
- Publisher
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- DOI
- 10.1289/ehp.1002106
- PMID
- 21288806
- ISSN
- 0091-6765
- eISSN
- 1552-9924
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2011
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology
- Record Identifier
- 9983996083602771
Metrics
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