Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Industrial Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Industrial Medicine
. 1992 Feb;49(2):95–103. doi: 10.1136/oem.49.2.95

Occupational and other environmental factors and multiple myeloma: a population based case-control study.

M Eriksson 1, M Karlsson 1
PMCID: PMC1012073  PMID: 1536825

Abstract

Epidemiological studies on the aetiology of multiple myeloma are reviewed as a background to this population based case-control study performed in an area with a high incidence of multiple myeloma. The purpose was to identify and evaluate several suspected environmental factors in relation to this disease. A total of 275 confirmed cases diagnosed in four counties in northern Sweden during four years were compared with the same number of control subjects drawn from population registries. The controls were matched for age, sex, county, and vital status. Occupations and work associated exposures to chemicals and other potential carcinogens were assessed by an extensive questionnaire that also included questions on smoking habits, residential building materials, vicinity to electrical power lines, and leisure time contact with animals, electrical equipment, and chemicals. Information obtained from the questionnaires was completed by telephone interviews when necessary. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed. The study confirmed an association found earlier between farming and multiple myeloma. Some domestic animals (cattle, horses, and goats) and two types of pesticides (phenoxyacetic acids and DDT) were indicated as risk factors within farming. Exposure to electromagnetic fields, asbestos, and organic solvents were negatively associated with myeloma in this study.

Full text

PDF
99

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Agu V. U., Christensen B. L., Buffler P. A. Geographic patterns of multiple myeloma: racial and industrial correlates, State of Texas, 1969-71. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1980 Oct;65(4):735–738. doi: 10.1093/jnci/65.4.735. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Alavanja M. C., Blair A., Merkle S., Teske J., Eaton B. Mortality among agricultural extension agents. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(2):167–176. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Amandus H. E., Wheeler R., Jankovic J., Tucker J. The morbidity and mortality of vermiculite miners and millers exposed to tremolite-actinolite: Part I. Exposure estimates. Am J Ind Med. 1987;11(1):1–14. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700110102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Axelson O., Dahlgren E., Jansson C. D., Rehnlund S. O. Arsenic exposure and mortality: a case-referent study from a Swedish copper smelter. Br J Ind Med. 1978 Feb;35(1):8–15. doi: 10.1136/oem.35.1.8. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Boffetta P., Stellman S. D., Garfinkel L. A case-control study of multiple myeloma nested in the American Cancer Society prospective study. Int J Cancer. 1989 Apr 15;43(4):554–559. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910430404. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bourguet C. C., Grufferman S., Delzell E., DeLong E. R., Cohen H. J. Multiple myeloma and family history of cancer. A case-control study. Cancer. 1985 Oct 15;56(8):2133–2139. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19851015)56:8<2133::aid-cncr2820560842>3.0.co;2-f. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brinton L. A., Stone B. J., Blot W. J., Fraumeni J. F., Jr Nasal cancer in U.S. furniture industry countries. Lancet. 1976 Sep 18;2(7986):628–628. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)90691-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Brownson R. C., Reif J. S. A cancer registry-based study of occupational risk for lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukaemia. Int J Epidemiol. 1988 Mar;17(1):27–32. doi: 10.1093/ije/17.1.27. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Burmeister L. F. Cancer mortality in Iowa farmers, 1971-78. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1981 Mar;66(3):461–464. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Burmeister L. F., Everett G. D., Van Lier S. F., Isacson P. Selected cancer mortality and farm practices in Iowa. Am J Epidemiol. 1983 Jul;118(1):72–77. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113618. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. CHAPMAN I., JIMENEZ F. A. ALEUTIAN-MINK DISEASE IN MAN. N Engl J Med. 1963 Nov 28;269:1171–1174. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196311282692204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Cabral J. R., Hall R. K., Rossi L., Bronczyk S. A., Shubik P. Effects of long-term intake of DDT on rats. Tumori. 1982 Feb 28;68(1):11–17. doi: 10.1177/030089168206800103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Cantor K. P., Blair A. Farming and mortality from multiple myeloma: a case-control study with the use of death certificates. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1984 Feb;72(2):251–255. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Cuzick J., De Stavola B. Multiple myeloma--a case-control study. Br J Cancer. 1988 May;57(5):516–520. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1988.118. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Cuzick J. Radiation-induced myelomatosis. N Engl J Med. 1981 Jan 22;304(4):204–210. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198101223040404. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Dörken H., Vollmer I. Die Epidemiologie des multiplen Myeloms. Untersuchung von 149 Fällen. Arch Geschwulstforsch. 1968;31(1):18–38. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Eriksson M., Bergström I. Familial malignant blood disease in the country of Jämtland, Sweden. Eur J Haematol. 1987 Mar;38(3):241–245. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1987.tb01170.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Eriksson M., Hardell L., Adami H. O. Exposure to dioxins as a risk factor for soft tissue sarcoma: a population-based case-control study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1990 Mar 21;82(6):486–490. doi: 10.1093/jnci/82.6.486. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Flodin U., Fredriksson M., Persson B., Axelson O. Chronic lymphatic leukaemia and engine exhausts, fresh wood, and DDT: a case-referent study. Br J Ind Med. 1988 Jan;45(1):33–38. doi: 10.1136/oem.45.1.33. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Flodin U., Fredriksson M., Persson B. Multiple myeloma and engine exhausts, fresh wood, and creosote: a case-referent study. Am J Ind Med. 1987;12(5):519–529. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700120506. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Gallagher R. P., Spinelli J. J., Elwood J. M., Skippen D. H. Allergies and agricultural exposure as risk factors for multiple myeloma. Br J Cancer. 1983 Dec;48(6):853–857. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1983.277. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Gallagher R. P., Threlfall W. J. Cancer mortality in metal workers. Can Med Assoc J. 1983 Dec 1;129(11):1191–1194. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Gilbert E. S., Marks S. An analysis of the mortality of workers in a nuclear facility. Radiat Res. 1979 Jul;79(1):122–148. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Gilbert E. S., Marks S. An updated analysis of mortality of workers in a nuclear facility. Radiat Res. 1980 Sep;83(3):740–741. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Gilbert E. S., Petersen G. R., Buchanan J. A. Mortality of workers at the Hanford site: 1945-1981. Health Phys. 1989 Jan;56(1):11–25. doi: 10.1097/00004032-198901000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Greene M. H., Hoover R. N., Eck R. L., Fraumeni J. F., Jr Cancer mortality among printing plant workers. Environ Res. 1979 Oct;20(1):66–73. doi: 10.1016/0013-9351(79)90085-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Guidotti S., Wright W. E., Peters J. M. Multiple myeloma in cosmetologists. Am J Ind Med. 1982;3(2):169–171. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700030207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Hardell L., Eriksson M., Lenner P., Lundgren E. Malignant lymphoma and exposure to chemicals, especially organic solvents, chlorophenols and phenoxy acids: a case-control study. Br J Cancer. 1981 Feb;43(2):169–176. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1981.25. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Henry L. W. Multiple myeloma in a mink handler following exposure to Aleutian disease. Cancer. 1979 Jul;44(1):273–275. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197907)44:1<273::aid-cncr2820440146>3.0.co;2-c. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Hoar S. K., Blair A., Holmes F. F., Boysen C. D., Robel R. J., Hoover R., Fraumeni J. F., Jr Agricultural herbicide use and risk of lymphoma and soft-tissue sarcoma. JAMA. 1986 Sep 5;256(9):1141–1147. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Kaplan H. S. From experimental animal models to human lymphoid tissue neoplasia: search for a viral etiology. Recent Results Cancer Res. 1978;64:325–336. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-81246-0_38. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Kashyap S. K., Nigam S. K., Karnik A. B., Gupta R. C., Chatterjee S. K. Carcinogenicity of DDT (dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane) in pure inbred Swiss mice. Int J Cancer. 1977 May 15;19(5):725–729. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910190519. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Kettmann R., Portetelle D., Mammerickx M., Cleuter Y., Dekegel D., Galoux M., Ghysdael J., Burny A., Chantrenne H. Bovine leukemia virus: an exogenous RNA oncogenic virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Apr;73(4):1014–1018. doi: 10.1073/pnas.73.4.1014. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Kociba R. J., Keyes D. G., Beyer J. E., Carreon R. M., Wade C. E., Dittenber D. A., Kalnins R. P., Frauson L. E., Park C. N., Barnard S. D. Results of a two-year chronic toxicity and oncogenicity study of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1978 Nov;46(2):279–303. doi: 10.1016/0041-008x(78)90075-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. La Vecchia C., Negri E., D'Avanzo B., Franceschi S. Occupation and lymphoid neoplasms. Br J Cancer. 1989 Sep;60(3):385–388. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1989.290. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Linet M. S., Harlow S. D., McLaughlin J. K. A case-control study of multiple myeloma in whites: chronic antigenic stimulation, occupation, and drug use. Cancer Res. 1987 Jun 1;47(11):2978–2981. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Lundberg I. Mortality and cancer incidence among Swedish paint industry workers with long-term exposure to organic solvents. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1986 Apr;12(2):108–113. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2170. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Maldonado J. E., Kyle R. A. Familial myeloma. Report of eight families and a study of serum proteins in their relatives. Am J Med. 1974 Dec;57(6):875–884. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(74)90164-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. McLaughlin J. K., Malker H. S., Linet M. S., Ericsson J., Stone B. J., Weiner J., Blot W. J., Fraumeni J. F., Jr Multiple myeloma and occupation in Sweden. Arch Environ Health. 1988 Jan-Feb;43(1):7–10. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1988.9934365. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Miettinen O. S. Estimation of relative risk from individually matched series. Biometrics. 1970 Mar;26(1):75–86. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Morris P. D., Koepsell T. D., Daling J. R., Taylor J. W., Lyon J. L., Swanson G. M., Child M., Weiss N. S. Toxic substance exposure and multiple myeloma: a case-control study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1986 Jun;76(6):987–994. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Nandakumar A., Armstrong B. K., de Klerk N. H. Multiple myeloma in Western Australia: a case-control study in relation to occupation, father's occupation, socioeconomic status and country of birth. Int J Cancer. 1986 Feb 15;37(2):223–226. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910370209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Ott M. G., Holder B. B., Gordon H. L. Respiratory cancer and occupational exposure to arsenicals. Arch Environ Health. 1974 Nov;29(5):250–255. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1974.10666582. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Pearce N. E., Smith A. H., Howard J. K., Sheppard R. A., Giles H. J., Teague C. A. Case-control study of multiple myeloma and farming. Br J Cancer. 1986 Sep;54(3):493–500. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1986.202. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Persson B., Dahlander A. M., Fredriksson M., Brage H. N., Ohlson C. G., Axelson O. Malignant lymphomas and occupational exposures. Br J Ind Med. 1989 Aug;46(8):516–520. doi: 10.1136/oem.46.8.516. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Pitot H. C., Goldsworthy T., Campbell H. A., Poland A. Quantitative evaluation of the promotion by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin of hepatocarcinogenesis from diethylnitrosamine. Cancer Res. 1980 Oct;40(10):3616–3620. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Preston D. L., Kato H., Kopecky K., Fujita S. Studies of the mortality of A-bomb survivors. 8. Cancer mortality, 1950-1982. Radiat Res. 1987 Jul;111(1):151–178. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Priester W. A., Mason T. J. Human cancer mortality in relation to poultry population, by county, in 10 southeastern States. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1974 Jul;53(1):45–49. doi: 10.1093/jnci/53.1.45. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Ressang A. A., Mastenbroek N., Quak J., van Griensven L. J., Calafat J., Hilgers J., Hageman P. C., Souissi T., Swen S. Studies on bovine leukemia. I. Establishment of type C virus producing cell lines. Zentralbl Veterinarmed B. 1974 Aug;21(8):602–617. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  50. Rinsky R. A., Smith A. B., Hornung R., Filloon T. G., Young R. J., Okun A. H., Landrigan P. J. Benzene and leukemia. An epidemiologic risk assessment. N Engl J Med. 1987 Apr 23;316(17):1044–1050. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198704233161702. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  51. Schwartz D. A., Vaughan T. L., Heyer N. J., Koepsell T. D., Lyon J. L., Swanson G. M., Weiss N. S. B cell neoplasms and occupational asbestos exposure. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(6):661–671. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140606. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  52. Shoenfeld Y., Berliner S., Shaklai M., Gallant L. A., Pinkhas J. Familial multiple myeloma. A review of thirty-seven families. Postgrad Med J. 1982 Jan;58(675):12–16. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.58.675.12. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  53. Spinelli J. J., Gallagher R. P., Band P. R., Threlfall W. J. Multiple myeloma, leukemia, and cancer of the ovary in cosmetologists and hairdressers. Am J Ind Med. 1984;6(2):97–102. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700060204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  54. Steineck G., Wiklund K. Multiple myeloma in Swedish agricultural workers. Int J Epidemiol. 1986 Sep;15(3):321–325. doi: 10.1093/ije/15.3.321. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  55. Thomas T. L., Decoufle P., Moure-Eraso R. Mortality among workers employed in petroleum refining and petrochemical plants. J Occup Med. 1980 Feb;22(2):97–103. doi: 10.1097/00043764-198002000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  56. Tollerud D. J., Brinton L. A., Stone B. J., Tobacman J. K., Blattner W. A. Mortality from multiple myeloma among North Carolina furniture workers. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1985 Apr;74(4):799–801. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  57. Walrath J., Decouflé P., Thomas T. L. Mortality among workers in a shoe manufacturing company. Am J Ind Med. 1987;12(5):615–623. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700120514. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Industrial Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES