Logo image
Back
Non-hodgkin lymphoma risk and insecticide, fungicide and fumigant use in the agricultural health study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Non-hodgkin lymphoma risk and insecticide, fungicide and fumigant use in the agricultural health study

Michael C R Alavanja, Jonathan N Hofmann, Charles F Lynch, Cynthia J Hines, Kathryn H Barry, Joseph Barker, Dennis W Buckman, Kent Thomas, Dale P Sandler, Jane A Hoppin, …
PloS one, Vol.9(10), pp.e109332-e109332
2014
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109332
PMCID: PMC4206281
PMID: 25337994
url
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0109332View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Farming and pesticide use have previously been linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM). We evaluated agricultural use of specific insecticides, fungicides, and fumigants and risk of NHL and NHL-subtypes (including CLL and MM) in a U.S.-based prospective cohort of farmers and commercial pesticide applicators. A total of 523 cases occurred among 54,306 pesticide applicators from enrollment (1993-97) through December 31, 2011 in Iowa, and December 31, 2010 in North Carolina. Information on pesticide use, other agricultural exposures and other factors was obtained from questionnaires at enrollment and at follow-up approximately five years later (1999-2005). Information from questionnaires, monitoring, and the literature were used to create lifetime-days and intensity-weighted lifetime days of pesticide use, taking into account exposure-modifying factors. Poisson and polytomous models were used to calculate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to evaluate associations between 26 pesticides and NHL and five NHL-subtypes, while adjusting for potential confounding factors. For total NHL, statistically significant positive exposure-response trends were seen with lindane and DDT. Terbufos was associated with total NHL in ever/never comparisons only. In subtype analyses, terbufos and DDT were associated with small cell lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia/marginal cell lymphoma, lindane and diazinon with follicular lymphoma, and permethrin with MM. However, tests of homogeneity did not show significant differences in exposure-response among NHL-subtypes for any pesticide. Because 26 pesticides were evaluated for their association with NHL and its subtypes, some chance finding could have occurred. Our results showed pesticides from different chemical and functional classes were associated with an excess risk of NHL and NHL subtypes, but not all members of any single class of pesticides were associated with an elevated risk of NHL or NHL subtypes. These findings are among the first to suggest links between DDT, lindane, permethrin, diazinon and terbufos with NHL subtypes.
 Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - chemically induced Multiple Myeloma - epidemiology North Carolina Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - toxicity Humans Middle Aged Risk Factors Agricultural Workers' Diseases - epidemiology Fungicides, Industrial - toxicity Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - chemically induced Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - epidemiology Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - epidemiology Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - pathology Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - pathology Iowa Multiple Myeloma - pathology Multiple Myeloma - chemically induced Adult Aged Agriculture Insecticides - toxicity Agricultural Workers' Diseases - chemically induced

Details

Metrics

56 Record Views
119 Times Cited - Web of Science
Logo image