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Occupational
risk factors for meningiomas and acoustic neuromas in the United States
Preetha
Rajaraman, Anneclaire De Roos, Patricia Stewart, Martha Linet, Peter Inskip
Division
of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD
Workplace
exposures may be related to the development of brain tumors.
While various occupations have been associated with elevated risk for glioma and
for all brain tumors combined, limited evidence suggests that occupational risk
factors differ for the major categories of brain tumor.
Between the years 1994-8, 197 incident meningioma cases, 96 incident acoustic
neuroma cases and 799 controls frequency-matched on hospital, age, sex, race,
and proximity of residence to the hospital were accrued from three major
hospitals in the United States.
A detailed lifetime work history and information on known or suspected risk
factors for brain tumors was obtained for all participants.
Jobs considered to have similar tasks and chemical exposures were assigned to an
occupational group based on information from job titles and standard industrial
and occupational codes.
Two exposure metrics were defined: having ever worked in an occupational group,
and working in an occupational group for at least five years.
Analyses were conducted separately for meningioma and acoustic neuroma.
Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence
intervals for each occupational group with five or more individuals.
The reference group comprised those individuals who never worked in that
occupation.
The model was adjusted for study matching factors and in the case of acoustic
neuroma, for education as well.
Preliminary analyses indicate an elevated risk of meningioma for individuals who
had ever worked in the following occupational groups:
auto body painters (odds ratio (OR)=6.4, 95% confidence interval
(CI)=1.0-40.2),
designers and decorators (OR=4.9, 95% CI=1.0-22.7),
military occupations (OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.0-5.0),
production managers and supervisors (OR=3.6, 95% CI=1.1-11.6),
and teachers and instructors (OR=1.6, 95% CI=1.0-2.6).
For acoustic neuroma, increased risk was noted for having ever worked in the
following occupations:
athletic occupations (OR=12.1, 95% CI =1.3-111.2),
gas station attendants (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.0-6.0),
purchasing agents (OR=2.9, 95% CI=1.0-8.8),
sales representatives (OR=1.9, 95% CI=1.0-3.5),
and teachers and instructors (OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.0-3.5).
Odds ratios were generally elevated for individuals who had worked in these
occupations for more than five years.
Although limited by multiple comparisons and the relatively small number of
participants in many occupational groups, these results nevertheless provide
clues that deserve additional study.
Detailed assessment of specific occupational exposures including lead and
solvents is under way.
Copyright © 2003 American Association for Cancer Research. All rights reserved.
Source: http://aacr03.agora.com/planner/displayabstract.asp?presentationid=6052
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