Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Occupational and Environmental Medicine logoLink to Occupational and Environmental Medicine
. 2004 Sep;61(9):773–778. doi: 10.1136/oem.2003.010868

Acute childhood leukaemia and environmental exposure to potential sources of benzene and other hydrocarbons; a case-control study

C Steffen 1, M Auclerc 1, A Auvrignon 1, A Baruchel 1, K Kebaili 1, A Lambilliotte 1, G Leverger 1, D Sommelet 1, E Vilmer 1, D Hemon 1, J Clavel 1
PMCID: PMC1763669  PMID: 15317919

Abstract

Aim: To analyse the association between potential environmental exposure to hydrocarbons and the risk of acute childhood leukaemia.

Methods: A hospital based multicentre case control study, stratified on centre, age, and sex, with 280 leukaemia cases and 285 controls was carried out. Data were collected by a standardised interview of the mothers.

Results: No clear association was seen between maternal occupational exposure to hydrocarbons during pregnancy and leukaemia, or between residential traffic density and leukaemia. There was an association between dwellings neighbouring a petrol station or a repair garage during childhood and the risk of childhood leukaemia (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 10.3), with a duration trend. The association, which appeared particularly strong for acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia (OR 7.7, 95% CI 1.7 to 34.3), was not altered by adjustment for potential confounding factors.

Conclusions: Results showed an association between acute childhood leukaemia and dwellings neighbouring auto repair garages and petrol stations, which are benzene emitting sources. These findings could be due to chance, although the strength of the association and the duration trend are arguments for a causal association.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (171.7 KB).

Selected References

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

  1. Buckley J. D., Robison L. L., Swotinsky R., Garabrant D. H., LeBeau M., Manchester P., Nesbit M. E., Odom L., Peters J. M., Woods W. G. Occupational exposures of parents of children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: a report from the Childrens Cancer Study Group. Cancer Res. 1989 Jul 15;49(14):4030–4037. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Clavel J., Glass D. C., Cordier S., Hémon D. Standardization in the retrospective evaluation by experts of occupational exposure to organic solvents in a population-based case-control study. Int J Epidemiol. 1993;22 (Suppl 2):S121–S126. doi: 10.1093/ije/22.supplement_2.s121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Duarte-Davidson R., Courage C., Rushton L., Levy L. Benzene in the environment: an assessment of the potential risks to the health of the population. Occup Environ Med. 2001 Jan;58(1):2–13. doi: 10.1136/oem.58.1.2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Feychting M., Svensson D., Ahlbom A. Exposure to motor vehicle exhaust and childhood cancer. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1998 Feb;24(1):8–11. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.272. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Harrison R. M., Leung P. L., Somervaille L., Smith R., Gilman E. Analysis of incidence of childhood cancer in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom in relation to proximity to main roads and petrol stations. Occup Environ Med. 1999 Nov;56(11):774–780. doi: 10.1136/oem.56.11.774. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Infante-Rivard C., Mur P., Armstrong B., Alvarez-Dardet C., Bolumar F. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia among Spanish children and mothers' occupation: a case-control study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1991 Mar;45(1):11–15. doi: 10.1136/jech.45.1.11. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Infante-Rivard Claire. Hospital or population controls for case-control studies of severe childhood diseases? Am J Epidemiol. 2003 Jan 15;157(2):176–182. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwf174. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Knox E. G., Gilman E. A. Hazard proximities of childhood cancers in Great Britain from 1953-80. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1997 Apr;51(2):151–159. doi: 10.1136/jech.51.2.151. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Knox E. G. Leukaemia clusters in childhood: geographical analysis in Britain. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1994 Aug;48(4):369–376. doi: 10.1136/jech.48.4.369. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Langholz Bryan, Ebi Kristie L., Thomas Duncan C., Peters John M., London Stephanie J. Traffic density and the risk of childhood leukemia in a Los Angeles case-control study. Ann Epidemiol. 2002 Oct;12(7):482–487. doi: 10.1016/s1047-2797(01)00317-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Lyons R. A., Monaghan S. P., Heaven M., Littlepage B. N., Vincent T. J., Draper G. J. Incidence of leukaemia and lymphoma in young people in the vicinity of the petrochemical plant at Baglan Bay, South Wales, 1974 to 1991. Occup Environ Med. 1995 Apr;52(4):225–228. doi: 10.1136/oem.52.4.225. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. McKinney P. A., Alexander F. E., Cartwright R. A., Parker L. Parental occupations of children with leukaemia in west Cumbria, north Humberside, and Gateshead. BMJ. 1991 Mar 23;302(6778):681–687. doi: 10.1136/bmj.302.6778.681. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Nordlinder R., Järvholm B. Environmental exposure to gasoline and leukemia in children and young adults--an ecology study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1997;70(1):57–60. doi: 10.1007/s004200050186. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Paustenbach D. J., Price P. S., Ollison W., Blank C., Jernigan J. D., Bass R. D., Peterson H. D. Reevaluation of benzene exposure for the Pliofilm (rubberworker) cohort (1936-1976). J Toxicol Environ Health. 1992 Jul;36(3):177–231. doi: 10.1080/15287399209531633. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Pearson R. L., Wachtel H., Ebi K. L. Distance-weighted traffic density in proximity to a home is a risk factor for leukemia and other childhood cancers. J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2000 Feb;50(2):175–180. doi: 10.1080/10473289.2000.10463998. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Perillat-Menegaux Florence, Clavel Jacqueline, Auclerc Marie-Françoise, Baruchel André, Leverger Guy, Nelken Brigitte, Philippe Noël, Sommelet Danièle, Vilmer Etienne, Hémon Denis. Family history of autoimmune thyroid disease and childhood acute leukemia. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2003 Jan;12(1):60–63. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Perrillat F., Clavel J., Auclerc M. F., Baruchel A., Leverger G., Nelken B., Philippe N., Schaison G., Sommelet D., Vilmer E. Day-care, early common infections and childhood acute leukaemia: a multicentre French case-control study. Br J Cancer. 2002 Apr 8;86(7):1064–1069. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600091. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Perrillat F., Clavel J., Jaussent I., Baruchel A., Leverger G., Nelken B., Philippe N., Schaison G., Sommelet D., Vilmer E. Family cancer history and risk of childhood acute leukemia (France). Cancer Causes Control. 2001 Dec;12(10):935–941. doi: 10.1023/a:1013758114381. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Raaschou-Nielsen O., Hertel O., Thomsen B. L., Olsen J. H. Air pollution from traffic at the residence of children with cancer. Am J Epidemiol. 2001 Mar 1;153(5):433–443. doi: 10.1093/aje/153.5.433. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Reynolds Peggy, Von Behren Julie, Gunier Robert B., Goldberg Debbie E., Hertz Andrew, Smith Daniel F. Childhood cancer incidence rates and hazardous air pollutants in California: an exploratory analysis. Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Apr;111(4):663–668. doi: 10.1289/ehp.5986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Rinsky R. A. Benzene and leukemia: an epidemiologic risk assessment. Environ Health Perspect. 1989 Jul;82:189–191. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8982189. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Sans S., Elliott P., Kleinschmidt I., Shaddick G., Pattenden S., Walls P., Grundy C., Dolk H. Cancer incidence and mortality near the Baglan Bay petrochemical works, South Wales. Occup Environ Med. 1995 Apr;52(4):217–224. doi: 10.1136/oem.52.4.217. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Savitz D. A., Feingold L. Association of childhood cancer with residential traffic density. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1989 Oct;15(5):360–363. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1848. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Shu X. O., Gao Y. T., Brinton L. A., Linet M. S., Tu J. T., Zheng W., Fraumeni J. F., Jr A population-based case-control study of childhood leukemia in Shanghai. Cancer. 1988 Aug 1;62(3):635–644. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19880801)62:3<635::aid-cncr2820620332>3.0.co;2-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Shu X. O., Stewart P., Wen W. Q., Han D., Potter J. D., Buckley J. D., Heineman E., Robison L. L. Parental occupational exposure to hydrocarbons and risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia in offspring. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1999 Sep;8(9):783–791. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Wilkinson P., Thakrar B., Walls P., Landon M., Falconer S., Grundy C., Elliott P. Lymphohaematopoietic malignancy around all industrial complexes that include major oil refineries in Great Britain. Occup Environ Med. 1999 Sep;56(9):577–580. doi: 10.1136/oem.56.9.577. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. van Duijn C. M., van Steensel-Moll H. A., Coebergh J. W., van Zanen G. E. Risk factors for childhood acute non-lymphocytic leukemia: an association with maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy? Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1994 Sep;3(6):457–460. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. van Steensel-Moll H. A., Valkenburg H. A., van Zanen G. E. Childhood leukemia and parental occupation. A register-based case-control study. Am J Epidemiol. 1985 Feb;121(2):216–224. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113992. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Occupational and Environmental Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES